SHANGHAI (AFP) – Stefanos Tsitsipas served sweet revenge after months of bad form yesterday when he defeated Japan’s Kei Nishikori in straight sets to advance into the third round of the Shanghai Masters.
Tsitsipas – who suffered a shock defeat to Nishikori in Montreal in August – battled through two tight sets to win 7-6 (8/6), 6-4.
“I’m glad of the win,” Tsitsipas said on court afterwards, adding he had shown “great fighting spirit” towards the end.
“I’m pleased I managed to overcome the obstacle of Kei”.
The Greek, once ranked third in the world, has slipped out of the ATP top 10 in recent months to now stand at 12th.
Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas. PHOTO: AFP
The loss in August to Nishikori, who is a former world number four but was ranked 576th at the beginning of the Montreal tournament, was followed swiftly by Tsitsipas dropping his father as coach after publicly criticising him.
“I did want to put out a fight and I wanted to show that I can go out there and play a good match against (Nishikori),” the 26-year-old said yesterday.
The match was closely fought, with the first set ending with a nail-biting tiebreaker that could have gone either way.
“Being able to win (the tiebreaker), coming back and helping me win the first set was an important and critical moment,” Tsitsipas told reporters after the match.
“Overcoming it was good, because it felt like I was able to restart now with a new mindset and it helped me get a bit of confidence.”
In the second set, 34-year-old Nishikori, who has been plagued in recent seasons by injury, required a medical time-out.
CAIRO (XINHUA) – The growth rate of Egypt’s gross domestic product slowed to 2.4 per cent in the fiscal year 2023/24 that ended in June, down from 3.8 per cent in the previous fiscal year, according to a statement released by the country’s Ministry of Planning and Economic Development on Thursday.
The statement attributed the decline to successive external shocks, geopolitical tensions, and the austerity policies adopted by the government to restore macroeconomic stability, especially through tighter governance of public investments.
The statement noted that Suez Canal revenues were among the hardest hit by regional geopolitical tensions, suffering a 30-per-cent decline in the 2023/24 fiscal year compared to the previous fiscal year.
Additionally, oil and natural gas production declined by 4.7 per cent due to reduced foreign investments in new well exploration.
BEIJING (AFP) – The 49th-ranked Karolina Muchova stunned top seed Aryna Sabalenka in three sets to reach the China Open semi-finals yesterday.
The Czech player won 7-6 (7/5), 2-6, 6-4 and faces China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen or 17-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva for a place in the final.
Last year’s US Open champion Coco Gauff plays Spain’s former world number two Paula Badosa in the other semi-final in Beijing.
World number two Sabalenka was on a streak of 15 victories in a row, claiming titles in Cincinnati and then the US Open for the first time.
The Belarusian previously had trouble though with Muchova, who this time last year was inside the top 10 before injury struck.
US Open semi-finalist Muchova had won the last two meetings between them with both going to a deciding set.
This encounter proved to be just as tight.
Three-time major champion Sabalenka faced three break points at the start but she held firm, then had a sniff herself on her opponent’s serve at 2-1, but Muchova similarly refused to buckle.
The hard-hitting Sabalenka had set point on Muchova’s serve at 5-4 but surrendered the opportunity when she rattled her forehand wide on the Czech’s second serve.
The flag of the International Atomic Energy Agency in front of its headquarters in Vienna, Austria. PHOTO: AFP
PARIS (BERNAMA) – The International Energy Agency (IEA) warned that rising global gas consumption and geopolitical tensions may complicate supply as countries approach winter, the German news agency dpa reported.
According to the agency’s latest report, industrial demand, particularly from Asia, is driving a significant increase in gas usage.
The agency projected global gas demand to rise by over 2.5 per cent this year, reaching a record high of 4,200 billion cubic metres, with an additional increase of 2.3 per cent anticipated by 2025. One of the main uncertainties as European winter approaches was the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, the IEA said.
Current contracts are set to expire at the end of 2024, which could potentially halt all Russian gas supplies to Europe via this route, the IEA said, adding that Europe would need to increase its imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the coming year.
This would place additional pressure on global supplies, as LNG is essential for maintaining the balance between supply and demand.
The IEA said that while bottlenecks in the Panama Canal and the Red Sea were impacting shipping, they had not yet caused a decline in LNG supplies.
The flag of the International Atomic Energy Agency in front of its headquarters in Vienna, Austria. PHOTO: AFP
Manchester United’s English defender Harry Maguire celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal. PHOTO: AFP
PARIS (AFP) – Harry Maguire struck in the 91st minute to spare Manchester United’s blushes as they rescued a 3-3 draw at Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, while Chelsea kickstarted their Conference League campaign with a home win.
Tottenham maintained their 100 per cent start in the Europa League at Ferencvaros but Serie A side Roma went down 1-0 in Sweden against Elfsborg.
The beleaguered Erik ten Hag’s Man United made a blistering start in Porto with goals from Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund firing them into a 2-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes.
But Pepe pulled one back for the hosts on 27 minutes before a brace by Samu Omorodion either side of the break flipped the game on its head. Bruno Fernandes was given his marching orders for a high boot with nine minutes remaining and United seemed to be heading to a second defeat in a week after losing their skipper to another red card.
But Maguire popped up in injury time to head in from a corner and grab the Manchester club their second draw in two Europa League outings this term and relieve some of the pressure on Ten Hag.
Manchester United’s English defender Harry Maguire celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the UEFA Europa League match against FC Porto. PHOTO: AFPManchester United’s English defender Harry Maguire celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal. PHOTO: AFP
“I don’t judge us in this moment. Judge us at the end of the season,” Ten Hag told TNT Sports.
“We are in the process. Just wait. We have to develop this team. We will work and continue. We will fight.”
Chelsea marked their first-ever appearance in the Conference League with a 4-2 win over visiting Belgian side Gent.
Manager Enzo Maresca utilised his large squad, naming an entirely different starting XI to the one that played in the league at the weekend.
Renato Veiga headed Chelsea into the lead in the 12th minute, which Pedro Neto then doubled one minute after the interval.
Tsuyoshi Watanabe made it 2-1 in the 50th minute but two goals from Christopher Nkunku and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in seven minutes killed off the tie before Omri Gandelman scored a consolation.
A 44th-minute penalty by Michael Baidoo was enough to give Elfsborg a surprise 1-0 win at home to Roma, who sit on one point after two games.
Earlier, Tottenham ground out a 2-1 win away to Hungary’s Ferencvaros in the Europa League.
Goals in both halves from Pape Sarr and Brennan Johnson did the job for spurs despite a late Barnabas Varga strike.
“I’m really happy. It’s never easy going away from home in Europe,” Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou told TNT sports.
“You saw the atmosphere tonight, there were a lot of things to deal with and also with four teenagers (in the team).”
An inexperienced Spurs side made a slow start and Ferencvaros thought they had taken the lead in the 18th minute through Varga, but VAR ruled that there had been an offside in the build-up.
The Premier League club broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute when Sarr was the only player in the Ferencvaros box to keep his cool.
The home side failed to clear the danger on three occasions, allowing Sarr to pounce and slot home from inside the six-yard box.
As Ferencvaros started to threaten late on, Johnson got his fifth in as many games with a left-footed finish that kissed the post on its way into the back of the net in the 86th minute.
And Spurs needed the two-goal buffer as Varga scored in the 90th minute to set up a nervous finale.
WASHINGTON (AFP) – England’s David Skinns fired a course-record 12-under par 60 on Thursday to grab the lead at the PGA Sanderson Farms Championship.
The 42-year-old Briton, ranked 149th in the world, missed a nine-foot par putt on his final hole, the par-4 ninth at Mississippi’s Country Club of Jackson, to miss out on a 59.
“It’s hard not to be a little bit disappointed because how many nine-footers are you going to get to shoot 59?” Skinns said. “I’m sure I’m not going to get many.
“I really want to just look back on how kind of in control mentally I felt, how I kept attacking. Wasn’t really thinking about the future at all, which is kind of the thing I’m going to take away from today.”
Skinns, seeking his first PGA victory, opened at 10 with back-to-back birdies, added birdies at 14-17 and the second through fifth holes then added birdies at seven and eight.
“It was just one of those dream days where I was never really in a bad spot,” Skinns said. “Those are the ones that you turn around and you’re 7-under, you’re like, wow, I didn’t feel like I did too much. Great to see a couple go in that maybe some days don’t.”
Skinns settled for a career-low round and took his missed chance for 59 in stride.
“Just broke way more than I thought,” Skinns said. “But there were a lot out there I got right, so I’m going to focus on the ones I got right.”
ROME (XINHUA) – Microsoft announced plans to invest EUR4.3 billion (USD4.74 billion) in Italy to develop infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud-based data centres.
The announcement came after a meeting in Rome between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and visiting Microsoft President Brad Smith.
The investment, the largest ever for Microsoft in Italy, is expected to enhance the country’s position as a digital hub in the Mediterranean. It dovetails with Italy’s priorities to capitalise on the benefits of AI technologies during its presidency of the Group of Seven (G7) countries.
According to Italian media reports, last week at the United Nations General Assembly held in New York, Meloni held individual meetings with the leaders of other major tech giants, including those from Alphabet and Open AI.
Microsoft said in its statement that the new data centres will be based in northern Italy’s Milan.
Australia’s James O’Connor is tackled by Argentina’s Emiliano Boffelli. PHOTO: AP
WELLINGTON (AFP) – Former Wallabies playmaker James O’Connor signed for New Zealand Super Rugby powerhouse Canterbury Crusaders yesterday, with the club calling him “world-class”.
The 34-year-old fly-half, who made 64 appearances for Australia, struggled with injuries last season, which saw him largely relegated to a mentoring role at the Queensland Reds.
He opted out of a new contract with the Australian side, sparking interest from the 14-time Super Rugby champions who had their worst campaign in more than 20 years last season.
“When we heard he was available we reached out as we thought we could offer him something new and challenging,” said Crusaders coach Rob Penney, who called O’Connor a “world-class and ambitious athlete”.
“We have two exciting and talented 10s in Rivez (Reihana) and Taha (Kemara), and James brings a level of maturity that we believe will complement them exceptionally well.”
O’Connor said he was excited to test himself in a new environment.
“My whole career I’ve heard so much about the Crusaders culture and innovation,” he said.
“So to experience it first hand and learn a new way of playing the game is something I’m really looking forward to.”
Australia’s James O’Connor is tackled by Argentina’s Emiliano Boffelli. PHOTO: AP
ABOVE & BELOW: An employee selects the high quality corks at the Amorim cork factory in Mozelos near Santa Maria da Feira, north of Portugal; and cork harvesting in progress. PHOTO: AFP
MOZELOS (AFP) – Portugal, the world’s leading cork producer, is finding new uses for the material, from footwear to furniture, as demand for bottle stoppers wanes.
Producers highlight the environmentally friendly properties of cork, which is lightweight, recyclable, waterproof and fire-resistant, to encourage its use in diverse settings.
Cork is obtained by stripping the bark of cork oak trees every nine years in a careful process that allows the tree to regenerate and grow, making the industry naturally sustainable.
The material has “a negative carbon footprint because it comes from a tree that captures CO2 day and night”, CEO of the world’s largest cork producer Corticeira Amorim, Antonio Rios de Amorim, told AFP.
The push to diversify comes with the reducing demand for cork bottle stoppers, which have long faced competition from cheaper plastic stoppers and screw tops.
“Periods of slowdown must be used to question what we do,” said Amorim, whose ancestors founded Corticeira Amorim 154 years ago in the northern village of Mozelos, about 30 kilometres south of second city Porto.
ABOVE & BELOW: An employee selects the high quality corks at the Amorim cork factory in Mozelos near Santa Maria da Feira, north of Portugal; and cork harvesting in progress. PHOTO: AFPPHOTO: AFPABOVE & BELOW: Employees select high quality corks; and using a forklift to stack boards of cork. PHOTO: AFPPHOTO: AFP
Thanks to cork’s cell-like structure, the material is elastic and highly impermeable, making it suitable to make shoes as well as ties, pants and other clothes.
Furniture designers are also increasingly drawn to the material.
British designer Tom Dixon has called it a “dream material” and put out a range of dark cork furniture that includes tables, stools and shelves using cork from Portugal.
The Lisbon metro in 2020 replaced the fabric lining on all seats of its train fleet with cork, an easier to maintain material.
Builders have been drawn to the material because of its unique thermal insulation and sound absorption properties.
Cork is also finding its way into space. It is used in thermal protection coating on booster rockets because of its resistance “to strong variations in temperature”, said Amorim.
Making bottle stoppers, however, remains the main activity for Portugal’s cork industry, which employs around 8,000 people.
Corticeira Amorim makes some six billion cork bottle stoppers per year, almost all of them for export mainly to Chile, France and the United States.
It accounts for 70 per cent of the global market share for cork stoppers and posted sales of EUR985 million (USD1 billion) in 2023, slightly lower than in the previous year.
Cork is made from the bark of the cork oak (Quercus suber) found in countries of the Mediterranean basin.
Portugal is home to about a third of the world’s total area dedicated to this tree – more than any other country – and accounts for nearly half the world’s supply of cork.
There are also plantations in France, Spain, Italy. Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.
In the province of Ribatejo around 80 kilometres east of Lisbon, cork oaks stretch as far as the eye can see.
The bark is removed from the tree in summer using traditional methods handed down from generation to generation.
It is a highly precise technique “that takes several years to learn”, said Nelson Ferreira, a 43-year-old cork bark harvester, adding he takes great care not to damage the tree.
The bark is then taken to Corticeira Amorim’s factories in the north of Portugal where it is steam-treated, cut into smaller pieces and then fed into machines that punch out stoppers.
The preservation of cork oaks is crucial for Portugal, which has made them a protected species since it takes an average of 40 years for a tree to start producing cork that can be used by cork makers.
File photo shows His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. PHOTO: INFOFOTO
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam will attend the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Vientiane, Laos from October 8 to 11.
Laos, as the Chair of ASEAN this year, carries the theme ‘ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience’, focusing on intensifying ASEAN cooperation across the three Community pillars; promoting infrastructure connectivity; narrowing the development gap; promoting greater economic integration and people-to-people exchanges.
It also emphasises further strengthening ASEAN’s relations with its external partners, while maintaining ASEAN’s relevance and centrality in the evolving regional architecture.
This year’s summits will gather the leaders of ASEAN and Timor-Leste, along with ASEAN Dialogue Partners, to push forward collective action in implementing the priority areas and key deliverables of ASEAN under Laos’ Chairmanship to enhance the region’s connectivity and resilience.
In response to emerging regional and global challenges, discussions will emphasise on ASEAN’s common goals and interests towards the promotion of peace, stability and prosperity in the region, such as sustainable and inclusive development; digital transformation; climate change; ASEAN’s Community-building efforts, ASEAN external relations, as well as regional and international issues of mutual importance.
File photo shows His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. PHOTO: INFOFOTO
