Andrey Rublev beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) on Saturday (March 6) to advance to the final in Rotterdam and extend his winning run in ATP 500 events to 19 matches.
Fourth seed Rublev broke Tsitsipas twice in the opening set and put the second-seeded Greek away with a dominant tie-break to secure victory in 97 minutes.
Rublev, through to a fourth straight ATP 500 final, will face Marton Fucsovics on Sunday after the qualifier from Hungary swept past Borna Coric 6-4, 6-1. World number eight Rublev is bidding for his eighth career title. The Russian holds a 7-2 record in tour-level finals.
“(I play tennis) to play at the best level, to play at the best tournaments, to try to compete, then to go deep and to try to win them,” Rublev said.
“A final is always special, so I am going to try to do my best tomorrow.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas Calls Naomi Osaka a “great human being”
Stefanos Tsitsipas has attributed Naomi Osaka’s incredible form to the ‘Souvlaki’ as the Greek commends Osaka for lifting the women’s game.
Tsitsipas said he is “happy” for the Japanese tennis player, adding that she has been playing “unbelievable tennis”, especially in Grand Slams.
He added that he was delighted to see “women’s tennis being taken over by such an inspiring, such a charming player like her”.
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 18, 2021 Japan’s Naomi Osaka after winning her semi final match against Serena Williams of the U.S. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
The reigning US Open champion picked up her second Australian Open title this year, becoming only the second woman since Maria Sharapova to win four Grand Slam championships.
Adding that it was “really good for the game to have players like her”, Tsitsipas said he is convinced that the Souvlaki she ate ahead of the Australian Open final may have had something to do with how it turned out for her.
“She had Greek food apparently, and I’ll just tell her one thing: I think it was all because of Greek food,” the World Number 6 said.
SA Best MLC Connie Bonaros’ sexual harassment complaint sparked a a review into State Parliament’s workplace culture. Now, the MP has urged every other Member of Parliament to also support all recommendations made by the former acting Equal Opportunity Commissioner in her report handed down last week.
In June, former Liberal MP, now independent, Sam Duluk will face trial after being charged with assault for allegedly slapping Ms Bonaros on the behind at a Christmas function at Parliament House in 2019.
The alleged assault initiated a long-overdue inquiry into sexual harassment in state parliament. The 166-page report was handed down on Tuesday by acting Equal Opportunity Commissioner Emily Strickland with 16 recommendations for change.
Up until now, Ms Bonaros has been careful not to publicly comment on the Commissioner’s inquiry.
Independent MP Sam Duluk (pictured right) arrives at the Magistrates Court in December last year with lawyer Domenic Agresta. Photo: Dean Martin/News Corp
“There is no turning back from here – there has to be action now,” she says in her first in-depth interview since the report was released.
“This cannot be swept under the carpet – not in today’s environment and not while I’m around,” she says in the lead-up to International Women’s Day on Monday.
“We now have a clear and defined road map to get us out of this quagmire. There is no excuse for not implementing all 16 of the Commission’s recommendations.”
Bonaros expressed her anger and sadness over the stories and accounts presented by the commissioner.
SA Best MLC Connie Bonaros on the steps of Parliament House, North Tce, Adelaide.. Picture Mark Brake/News Corp
“It beggars belief that we’ve managed to sweep this under the carpet for as long as we hav,” she said.
“If we can’t get it right, how on earth can we expect any other workplace to get it right?”
She added a centralised human resources department was long overdue.
“The fact that any workplace doesn’t have an HR unit in place in line with what the commissioner has outlined is simply outdated,” she said.
“We are operating in an archaic, outdated system based on conventions of a bygone era.”
Revithia sto fourno, baked chickpeas, is something everyone must make at least once – it’s just that good. Using only five of the most ordinary of ingredients, this positively perfect authentic, rustic peasant dish is a cinch to make for the modern home cook.
INGREDIENTS
250gr of dried chickpeas (soaked overnight and boiled for one hour or until tender. Drain but save the liquid)
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp fresh chopped rosemary
2 tsp salt & fresh ground black pepper
2 ½ cups of chopped onions
METHOD
Pre-heat your oven to 200°c. Using your casserole dish, create a layer with onions and crushed rosemary, salt & pepper. Next, add a layer of cooked chickpeas.
Add 3 cups of the saved liquid and the extra virgin olive oil. Stir gently to combine slightly, with the aim of leaving the onions on the bottom.
Cook for 2 hours loosely covered and then uncovered for additional 30mins (total cooking time — 2 1/2 hrs)
Serve as a main dish, accompanied by smoked trout, olives or feta cheese and fresh bread.
A celebration of Greek culture was the theme of the night as the community took part in the official launch of the Greek Festival of Sydney at Enmore Theatre on Friday night.
There were a number of political officials and leaders of the Greek community that spoke at the event, including Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras, Very Rev. Prohoros Anastasiadis, representing His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, Martha Mavrommati, High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, Hon Scot Farlow, representing NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Geoff Lee MP, Opposition leader Jodie Mckay MP, and Inner-West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne.
Starting off the night was an acknowledgement of country by an Indigenous performer, who connected with audience members after speaking about his Cypriot wife. This was followed by a performance by the Paroula Greek School dancers.
Paroula Greek dancers. Photo: The Greek Herald
Speaking at the event, Consul General of Greece in Sydney Christos Karras said the Greek revolution is a “critical chapter” in Greek history and the formation of the modern Greek state.
“2021 will be a milestone for Greece and the worldwide celebrations for this landmark anniversary, to give us the opportunity to reflect on Greek culture, on the Greek way of life and the potential of Greeks in the homeland and abroad,” Christos Karras said.
“The Greek festival of Sydney showcases Greek cultural and artistic heritage in life, celebrating Greek art, literature, history, food and music.”
Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras, with his wife and Paroula. Photo: Vasilis Vasilas
Very Rev. Prohoros Anastasiadis spoke at the event on behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, who is currently in Constantinople with the Holy and Greek Synod.
“We’ve gathered this evening for two reasons. Firstly to reflect, and secondly to admire and thank,” Fr Anastasiadis said.
“To reflect on 200 years of independence. To reflect on the ideals of bravery, courage, the struggles and all that is right. To reflect on 39 years of the Greek festival, a festival that aims to promote all that is Greek, our orthodox faith, our language and our culture.”
Cretan Presidents Terry Saviolakis and Tony Tsourdalakis. Photo: Vasilis Vasilas
High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus Martha Mavrommati was very vocal about the “passion” that should be felt by Greeks as they celebrate 200 years of the Greek War for Independence. Mavrommati gave thanks to Australia for being able to gather in a theatre. A luxury that won’t be enjoyed by Greece, Cyprus, and the many other countries in the world.
“Cyprus participated in the Greek revolution, but Cyprus continues its own struggle for freedom of our country. So let us tonight enjoy the music so our children have a future of this world because it is a beautiful multicultural country,” Martha Mavrommati said to thunderous applause.
“So let us say, god bless Australia, god bless this multicultural country, god bless Greece and Cyprus.”
Speakers at the Enmore Greek Fest. Photo: The Greek Herald
Inner-West Council mayor Darcy Byrne opened his speech by introducing people to the “Hellenic Republic of the Inner-West”.
“Here in Enmore, here in the Inner-West, is the birthplace of Australian multiculturalism and the beating heart of Greek-Australian culture. We made the decision to rename central Marrickville as Little Greece,” Darcy Byrne said.
Sydney’s political and cultural leaders continued speeches until the performances of the Kostas Mountakis’ Tribute Concert, which was performed live on Thursday night, took to the stage to satisfy the audiences musical bones. Also performing on the night was George Doukas and the D Strings and Iho Nyx.
The Greek Fest was the first official event of the 39th Greek Festival of Sydney, organised by the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW.
Kostas Mountakis’ Tribute Concert performers. Photo: The Greek Herald
Psihosavato, also known as the Saturday of Souls, is a day that members of the Greek Orthodox community gather to pray for the dead, remembering that it was on the Great and Holy Saturday when Christ lay dead in his Tomb.
As Greeks come together and pray, they also celebrate the day with traditions that have been passed down through centuries.
One of the most popular traditions is that of eating koliva. This is a delicious dessert that consists of wheat, raisins, cinnamon, nuts, pomegranate, and powdered sugar. This dish is handed out after a memorial service, and if there are any leftovers, they’re given to friends and family. This custom is thought to have originated in Ancient Greece, because the Ancient Greeks used to offer the dead a similar dish of wheat and nuts.
Another popular element of Psihosavato is the memorial service, in which a special memorial prayer is made to pray for the deceased’s forgiveness. This is also a time where many family members attend the tomb or burial site of a loved one, commemorating their death.
Psihosavato traditions can sometimes differ between different regions of Greece. In Crete, Soul Saturday is a day when people don’t cut down trees. This is because they believe there are souls sitting on the branches, and cutting the trees down would disturb them.
To help celebrate Psihosavato, here is a koliva recipe you can make at home!
Ingredients
500 g Olympian Hard Wheat
200 g Walnuts
200 g Grated Walnuts
200 g Almonds, blanched
1 Pomegranate (optional)
250 g Sultanas
2 tbsp Ground Cinnamon
Instructions
In a bowl, add the hard wheat, cover with cold water and soak overnight.
The following day, drain, transfer to a pot and cover with cold water.
Boil over medium heat for about 60 minutes, until the wheat softens.
When ready, drain.
Spread a large, clean towel on a working surface and spread the wheat over it. Cover with another towel and let it dry overnight. It should have no moisture at all.
Coarsely chop the walnuts.
Coarsely chop the almonds.
Finely grind the other walnuts in a blender.
If you’re using pomegranate, cut in half, remove the white membrane and remove the seeds.
In a large bowl, add all of the toasted ingredients, the pomegranate seeds and the remaining ingredients.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, a semi-finalist at last month’s Australian Open, reached the final four of the ATP Rotterdam tournament on Friday with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Karen Khachanov.
World number six Tsitsipas fought back from 3-1 down in the final set and broke his Russian opponent at five games each before sealing a place in the semi-finals.
“He was playing great tennis and I wasn’t sure if I would be able to compete,” said Tsitsipas who fired 46 winners past his Russian opponent.
“We had great rallies and the quality of tennis was excellent.”
Slice job: Stefanos Tsitsipas returns the ball to Karen Khachanov. Photo: Yahoo News
“You need to stay as calm as possible in three-setters. I have won a lot in the past and with experience, it gives me an idea of how to play in these tight moments.”
Tsitsipas beat Rafael Nadal en route to the Australian Open semi-finals before losing to Daniil Medvedev, who crashed out in the opening round in Rotterdam as top seed.
The second-seeded Greek will next play another Russian in fourth seed Andrey Rublev who battled past French qualifier Jeremy Chardy 7-6 (7/2), 6-7 (2/7), 6-4.
“It was a really tough match against Jeremy,” Rublev said in an on-court interview after having had two match points in the second set.
“I will try to do as much as I can to be ready for tomorrow. Stefanos also had two tough matches this week.”
Greek long jump athlete Miltos Tentoglou has placed first in long jump at the 2021 European Athletics Championship, making him a back to back European Champion.
The Greek champion measured 8.35 meters from his first jump in the final at Torun to win the gold medal as he edged out Sweden’s Thobias Montler by four centimetres. Finland’s Kristian Pulli was third with 8.24 meters.
Tentoglou skipped his second, third and sixth attempt, while his fourth and fifth were invalid.
BREAKING! Greek Long Jump prodigy Miltiadis Tentoglou has just won gold at the 2021 European Athletics Championships🥇
Tentoglou’s jump of 8.35m is a World Lead & makes him a back to back European Champion. BRAVO!🔥🇬🇷 pic.twitter.com/ylQOTkCn1U
The Greek athlete is only 22 years old and already has multiple gold medals to his name. He is looking to add to this collection at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo.
He initially started as a freerunner and parkourer until a coach saw him in action at the age of 15, urging him to try athletics. Since then, he’s been dominating youth and professional competitions.
Speaking before the final, he said he felt great and he believed he could come close to his personal best, which is 8.38 meters.
“The competition is being held under difficult circumstances but even without any spectators it is still a European Championship and I want to give all my best,” he added.
The owner of Double Bay’s famous Indigo Cafe, Anthony Moustacas, has listed his incredible Bronte home worth an estimated $7.5m-$8m.
The Figtree house is a beautifully revived five-bedroom Victorian manor home on a 670 sqm block at 27 Chesterfield Parade — one of Bronte’s most coveted streets.
According to realestate.com.au, the home last traded for $4.7m in 2013 and has Arent & Pyke interiors, views to the ocean, a sunny Peter Fudge designed garden with a huge lawn and a heated mosaic-tiled pool. The house will go up for auction on March 27.
27 Chesterfield Parade, Bronte, has beautiful interiors. Photo: realestate.com.au
It’s on a 670 sqm block. Photo: realestate.com.au
The house is part of Phillips and Tyrrell’s $20m sales spree, previously selling a five bedder with ocean views at 34 Pacific Street for $10 million.
The listing hit realestate.com.au today as Phillips and Tyrrell were in the midst of a $20m sales spree.
“She wasn’t really looking to sell it, but we showed through buyers and she got a really strong offer,” says Tyrrell. “The market’s just so hot.”
Harry Maguire was found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and repeated attempts of bribery in August last year following a brawl with police in Mykonos. While it was believed he would be called before the summer for an appeals court hearing on Syros, this is no longer the case.
A judicial official told the Guardian on Friday that it is unlikely Maguire will have a hearing this year due to the tribunal’s case load having piled up because of the pandemic.
“Only emergency cases are being held,” the official said. “We have a backlog dating back several years and every week there are adjournments. Very probably this case will not be heard for all of 2021.” United did not want to comment on the latest developments on Friday.
The Manchester United captain was arrested along with his brother Joe and pal Chris Sharman after a fight erupted in the street.
Manchester United captain Harry Maguire allegedly attempted to bribe Greek police after his arrest. (Photo by EUROKINISSI / AFP)
Maguire’s top human rights lawyer Alexis Anagnostakis told the trial in Syros that the fight was allegedly started after an “Albanian group” attacked Maguire’s younger sister, Daisy. Daisy was stabbed in the arm, causing her to pass out.
Maguire and his group asked to be taken to hospital after the incident, but were driven to a police station instead, where officers allegedly kicked Maguire on the leg and told him: “Your career is over”.
The court heard how once at the police station, Maguire said: “Do you know who I am? I am the captain of Manchester United, I am very rich, I can give you money, I can pay you, please let us go.”
BREAKING: Video of Harry Maguire’s fight in Mykonos has surfaced.
Per police reports, Maguire, his brothers & a friend began fighting police when they arrived on the scene after this.
They’re now being accused of assault & are being held in the District Attorney’s Dpt on Syros. pic.twitter.com/z6Ra9aDLrI
After being handed a 21-month prison sentence, suspended for three years, the defender immediately appealed against the verdict. His two co-defendants, who were given 13-month suspended sentences, also appealed. All three were allowed to walk free after the court acknowledged their clear criminal records.
Under Greek law an appeal amounts to a retrial with the higher tribunal having up to eight years to hear the case. When it does take place Maguire will face a three-member panel of appeals court judges, also on Syros.
Greece will introduce an increase in military service for conscripts serving in the army from nine to 12 months, starting in May, as part of a program to boost the armed forces amid tension with regional rival Turkey.
The decision made public Friday will bring army service in line with the length of conscription to the navy and air force.
The nine-month term will only remain for army conscripts who volunteer to join special forces services or serve in border areas for their entire term in uniform.
In Greece, the unemployment rate of young people up to 24 years old jumped to an alarming 33% last September, according to Greek statistics office data. Military service in Greece is mandatory for men from the age of 19.
Greece last year began a major military modernization program that will include the upgrade of its aging F-16 fighter jet fleet as well as the purchase of new-generation, French-built Rafale jets and a planned frigate order that has drawn keen interest from competing U.S. and European arms makers.
Greece and neighboring Turkey are at odds over sea boundaries and mineral rights in the Aegean Sea and eastern Mediterranean, causing a tense naval buildup in the region last year.
