Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas was in superb form as he charged past Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6(3), 7-5 on Tuesday night to book a place in the Roland Garros semi-final.
The FedEx ATP Race To Turin leader overcame the surging Medvedev, who was into this stage in Paris for the first time, to earn his first victory over the Russian since 2019 and improve to 2-6 in their ATP Head2Head.
Both players came in with perfect 3-0 records in Grand Slam quarter-final matches. But after two hours and 21 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier it was Tsitsipas who went on to reach the semi-finals in Paris for the second year in a row.
Tsitsipas will next face sixth seed Alexander Zverev as he seeks to reach the championship match at a major for the first time. Tsitsipas leads Zverev 5-2 in their ATP Head2Head (1-0 on clay courts).
The second seed’s defeat also ended his bid to unseat Novak Djokovic at World No. 1. Medvedev would have risen to the top of the FedEx ATP Rankings by reaching the final if Djokovic did not, or by winning his maiden Grand Slam title in Paris.
Marble, Onyx, Brazilian crystal and Terrazzo. All luxury materials which most people don’t typically associate with religious icons.
That is until co-founders of ‘My Christening Box,’ Mary Panayi and Soula Violakis, came along with their brilliant and innovative idea to modernise and customise religious icons according to the needs and style of their business clients.
“We came up with the idea during COVID. Soula lost her job and I decided to leave an industry that I was in for 25 years,” Mary tells The Greek Herald exclusively.
Co-founders of ‘My Christening Box,’ Mary Panayi and Soula Violakis. Photo supplied.
“During this time, we recognised people were still having christenings without the celebrations as people still needed to christen their children. The thought was to create the essential christening box with a personalised icon to lower costs for an unpredictable future.”
From there, Mary and Soula, who have known each other for seven years, decided to launch their small business ‘My Christening Box’ and now offer “an Australian made perspex christening box with all the essential items included.”
“We decided to customise our icons with different types of marble, onyx, Brazilian crystal and terrazzo that is designed in Sydney for us and sent to Italy,” Mary explains.
“We crack the stone ourselves and then… transfer [the image] onto the cracked stone. We hand paint around the icon and then we use resin for a sleek finish.”
Modernised religious icons by My Christening Box. Photo supplied.
Although this process is clearly a time-consuming one, Mary says it’s rewarding and humbling to see how emotional clients get when they receive their icons.
“We strive to execute every single icon to perfection… We believe that our icons attract a Greek target market because it is a modernised take on a religious icon,” Mary says.
“Soula and I feel that if it is not up to us as parents to educate our children with our religious beliefs, it will all get lost. Our parents came here from Greece and passed on these beliefs and now it is our duty to do the same.”
If you would like your own personalised icon or christening box, you can find ‘My Christening Box’ on Instagram.
Home and Away star, Ada Nicodemou, has opened up about her struggle with body image in an interview with Sydney Confidential.
The 44-year-old actress revealed in the interview that while she’s generally confident in her own skin “overall,” at times she has challenging moments.
“I’m not going to lie and say that there haven’t been times that I am not as confident as I should be,” Nicodemou told Confidential.
Home and Away star, Ada Nicodemou.
Nicodemou went on and said a clean diet along with regular exercise are her secrets to staying in shape.
“I try to eat well most of the time and I’m lucky as I enjoy exercising too… I try to exercise daily whether it be a walk or a PT session,” she said.
The Logie award-nominee has spoken openly in the past about her views on plastic surgery, saying she’s not opposed to going under the knife.
Ada Nicodemou is a fan favourite on Home and Away.
In 2019, Nicodemou, who plays Leah Patterson on Home and Away, revealed she had a breast augmentation and Botox injections while defending herself against social trolls who accused her of being “fake.”
“I like to look and feel good for myself and I like taking care of myself,” she concluded in the interview.
Nicodemou shares a nine-year-old son, Johnas, with her ex-husband Chrys Xipolitas. She is dating businessman, Adam Rigby.
After five decades of division and discord, the schismatic community and parish of St Nektarios in Wollongong, NSW, has officially returned to the fold of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
This decision to rejoin the Archdiocese was made in November 2020 during an Annual General Meeting of the St Nektarios Board Committee, but His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia made his first historic visit to the church on Sunday, June 6, to officially mark the momentous occasion.
Also present on the day were a number of political representatives and religious leaders including, but not limited to, the Mayor of Shellharbour, Cr Marianne Saliba, the NSW MP Mr Paul Scully, Ms Alison Byrnes, representing Federal MP, the Hon Sharon Bird, His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, His Grace Bishop Emilianos of Meloa and the Archepiscopal Vicar of Canberra and Tasmania, Very Reverend Prochoros Anastasiadis.
The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Photos supplied.
Official proceedings on the day began with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, presided over by Archbishop Makarios, Bishop Iakovos and Bishop Emilianos.
This was followed by a number of speeches from the President of the Community of St Nektarios, Arthur Tzortzis, the parish priest, Father Anastasios, and Archbishop Makarios himself.
“We look forward to working together [with the Archdiocese] for the future of our Greek heritage, our Orthodox religion and our grandchildren,” Mr Tzortzis told The Greek Herald after the event.
Attendees on the day. Photo supplied.
For his part, Archbishop Makarios was clearly moved on the day by the fact that another community had been reinstated within the canonical jurisdiction of the Church, and thanked the community for their hard work in helping achieve the reunification.
“You managed, despite the difficulties, enmities, egos and practical obstacles… to leave the lie, the schism and division and to come to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church…” Archbishop Makarios said in his speech.
“Our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is the first to congratulate you along with the Holy and Sacred Synod of our Ecumenical Patriarchate and all the clergy and the Orthodox people of Australia rejoice with us today.
Photos supplied.
“I confess with all my sincerity that, from today, our Archdiocese becomes spiritually brighter because yet another schism has been erased and has disappeared.”
Mr Tzortzis and the Vice President of the Community, Kathy Tzanis, later presented Archbishop Makarios with an engolpion as an expression of gratitude for his role in bridging the divisions and in remembrance of this historic day for their parish and community.
The celebration ended with a meal given in honour of the Archbishop who, together with all those present, had the opportunity to take pride in the youth that presented traditional Greek dances.
A lunch was held after the liturgy. Photo supplied.
Rising Greek tennis star, Michaela Laki, is through to the next round of the Roland Garros Juniors competition in France after she beat Sofia Kostoula, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(1), on Monday.
In what is the first Grand Slam tournament of Laki’s career, she played an amazing game against Kostoula where despite losing the first set, she came back fighting to claim the match.
From the start, Kostoula had the upper hand in the first set, as she led 3-1 and had a break lead for most of the set. The 16-year-old Belgian, who is of Greek origin on her father’s side, was ahead even with 5-3.
This is Michaela Laki from Greece, #23 in juniors, and she just won her first RG match! Keep an eye out, because she's insanely talented 💙 https://t.co/kWhgh2AjYe
Laki, who had to erase a break point at 2-4 to avoid being left behind with a double break, managed to keep the difference in one break and in the 10th game made the break back, which put her back in the game (5-5). She then kept her serve in a big game and went ahead for the first time in the 3rd set, at 6-5.
At this stage, Kostoula asked for medical attention for cramps, but according to regulations she could not get help and medical time out for such a problem. She continued to play and managed to send it to the tie-break, but Laki dominated and prevailed 7-1.
This victory saw Laki qualify for the “16” best of Roland Garros.
In the next round, she will have an even more difficult mission, as she will face No. 6 seed in the world ranking of juniors, Robin Montgomery.
A high-ranking Comanchero bikie has been arrested after the National Anti Gangs Squad allegedly busted him trying to import cocaine from Greece, The Daily Telegraph has reported.
Police swooped on Emmanuel Vamvoukakis, 40, in a major operation at Mt Keira on Sunday, after police allege he attempted to import cocaine into Australia via offshore Greece.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Mr Vamvoukakis — who police say is the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Comanchero South Coast chapter — was charged with four offences.
This includes: import marketable quantity of border controlled drug; deal with proceeds of crime; direct activities to aid or risk aiding a criminal organisation and; intend as instrument of crime money or property worth $50,000 or more.
AFP officers, along with NSW police raided Mr Vamvoukakis’s home on June 6. Picture: Generic/ Lillian Watkins.
The 40-year-old faced Wollongong Local Court on Monday, where he chose not to apply for bail, with his lawyer indicating they would make an application for his release next week.
Police will allege Mr Vamvoukakis paid an associate in Greece $50,000 for 1kg of cocaine, which would be delivered in aluminium tins to a Sanctuary Point home.
It’s also alleged he tried to recruit other people to take the “parcel” after it had arrived in the country in exchange for $10,000.
The arrest is one of many made as part of Operation Ironside. This police operation has seen Australia’s underworld, including the Mafia, bikie and global gang heavyweights, tricked into delivering their criminal plans straight into the hands of detectives through an AFP and FBI secret AN0M app.
As part of Ironside, police seized guns and other weapons and drugs. Picture: The Daily Telegraph.
More than 100 people have been charged, 3366kg of drugs and $35.8m in cash seized, 72 firearms confiscated and 1650 devices with the encrypted app.
Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, said today the “operation puts Australia at the forefront of the fight against criminals.”
“Today, the Australian Government, as part of a global operation, has struck a heavy blow against organised crime – not just in this country, but one that will echo around organised crime around the world,” he said.
“This is a watershed moment in Australian law enforcement history.”
Greece on Monday designated neighbouring Turkey as a safe country in which to seek international protection for the majority of asylum-seekers departing its shores for Greece.
A joint decree from the Greek foreign and migration ministries said the designation applies to asylum-seekers from Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Somalia.
It said Turkey meets all criteria to examine asylum requests from these nationals, as there “they are not in any danger… due to their race, religion, citizenship, political beliefs or membership in some particular social group, and can seek asylum in Turkey instead of in Greece.”
That, in theory, could reduce migration flows to European Union member Greece, as it would allow it to return asylum-seekers from these countries to Turkey — which itself has a huge migrant and refugee population.
Greece tells migrants from five countries to seek asylum in Turkey. Photo: Fotomovimiento.org.
Nevertheless, despite pressure from the EU and Athens, Ankara has shown little appetite for taking back migrants who reached Greece from its territory, despite a 2016 Turkish-EU agreement that was meant to stem illegal migration into the 27-nation bloc.
Greek officials said Athens has so far this year asked Turkey to take back 1,453 people, without success.
Nevertheless, Migration Minister, Notis Mitarachi, described Monday’s decision as “an important step in tackling illegal migration flows” which, he said, would “force” Turkey to crack down on illegal migration and smuggling networks.
Mitarachi added that the decision “is fully in line with international law and enhances Greece’s legal arsenal against (asylum) requests by citizens of … Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Somalia, who objectively have no reason not to consider Turkey a safe country.”
Greek Migration Minister, Notis Mitarachi.
Greece and Turkey are historic regional rivals, and military tensions rose dangerously last year over marine boundaries. Athens accuses Ankara of using migration as a weapon, pointing to the Turkish government’s failed bid last year, before the military tension, to wave thousands of migrants and refugees towards Greece.
Several human rights groups have accused Greece of illegally deporting some migrants to Turkey without letting them apply for asylum. Athens denies that.
Although a record 1 million people entered Greece through Turkey in 2015 — mostly seeking to move on to wealthier EU countries — flows have since been greatly reduced.
So far this year, just over 3,000 people have reached Greece from Turkey, mostly by sea in flimsy craft. According to the UN refugee agency, 47% were Afghans, 15% were Syrians and 9% were Somalis.
Germany’s foreign minister said on Monday the European Union should abolish the right of individual member states to veto foreign policy measures as the 27-nation bloc could not allow itself to be “held hostage.”
His comments, which came days after a more junior official criticised Hungary by name, reflect growing frustration in Berlin at the way in which EU member countries can prevent the bloc from acting in matters on which almost all members agree.
“We can’t let ourselves be held hostage by the people who hobble European foreign policy with their vetoes,” Heiko Maas told a conference of Germany’s ambassadors in Berlin.
Germany’s foreign minister, Heiko Maas.
“If you do that then sooner or later you are risking the cohesion of Europe. The veto has to go, even if that means we can be outvoted.”
His remarks amount to a highly unusual rebuke by Germany of a fellow member-state. Germany, conscious of its economic and political heft within the EU, is normally very cautious about being seen to throw its weight for fear of seeming overbearing.
Hungary blocked an EU statement in April criticising China’s new security law in Hong Kong, undermining the bloc’s efforts to confront Beijing’s restrictions of freedoms in the former British colony.
Maria Sakkari demolished last year’s French Open runner-up, Sofia Kenin, 6-1, 6-3 on Monday to reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time.
The world number 18 needed just 68 minutes to defeat the fourth-seeded American and set up a clash with reigning champion, Iga Swiatek, or Ukrainian teenager, Marta Kostyuk, for a place in the last four.
Sakkari broke Kenin six times as the 2020 Australian Open winner committed 32 unforced errors and served nine double faults.
Upset ahead? 🔭
No.17 seed Sakkari secures the first set 6-1 over No.4 seed Kenin in just 27 minutes.
“I’m speechless. I love Paris. I’m having a great time and I don’t want to leave anytime soon,” Sakkari, who reached the last 16 in Melbourne and New York last year, said.
“I’m actually enjoying myself, that’s the most important thing. I’m not actually torturing myself when I’m on court.”
Finish Line Found 🏁@mariasakkari is headed to her first Grand Slam quarter-final with a 6-1, 6-3 win over 2020 finalist Kenin in just over an hour.
The win over Kenin was Sakkari’s third win over a top-five player this season. It also left eighth seed Swiatek as the highest-ranked player left in the women’s draw.
“The match before yesterday gave me a lot of confidence,” Sakkari, who beat 14th seed Elise Mertens in three sets in the previous round, said.
“I played really good tennis and so today I was really ready for a battle.”
Greek music, dancing and food filled Darwin’s Waterfront on Saturday as the ‘Taste of GleNTi’ event kicked off with thousands in attendance.
The mini festival, which was organised by the Greek Orthodox Community of Northern Australia, marked the official launch of a week of events leading up to the annual Darwin Greek GleNTi Festival on June 12-13 at Bicentennial Park, Darwin Esplanade.
The free event included activities like face painting, balloon making and a surprise performance by Peter Rabbit, while the ‘Honey Puff King’ also attended the event, selling special Greek foods like Greek ice coffee, honey puffs, baklava and Greek vanilla slice.
Everyone enjoyed themselves at the ‘Taste of GleNTi’ event. Photo copyright: Georgia Politis Photography. Republished with permission.
While people enjoyed their food and mingled at the souvenir stores, they were also treated to a number of eye-catching Greek dancing performances from the Greek Traditional Dance Group, the Cyprus Community Dance Group and the OPA School of Hellenic Dance Group.
A special ‘Greek Agora’ stall was even set up for the participating Greek dance groups to help them raise much needed funds to purchase the magnificent Greek costumes they use for their special dance routines.
DJ Rossi Kourounis also entertained the crowds with his upbeat and eccentric tunes.
Photo copyright: Georgia Politis Photography / Republished with permission.
Photo copyright: Georgia Politis Photography / Republished with permission.
“The mini GleNTi went exactly as I imagined it. I’m really pleased with how the vision came to fruition,” President of the Greek Orthodox Community of Northern Australia, Nicholas Poniris, tells The Greek Herald.
“The buzz on the day couldn’t be captured. You had to be there to experience the enthusiasm from everyone who turned up. It was fantastic.”
Photo copyright: Georgia Politis Photography. Republished with permission.
Saturday’s event will be followed by a soccer match, called GleNTi Cup, on Tuesday, June 8 between fierce Football NT rivals and Grecian-based clubs, Darwin Olympic and Hellenic.
This sporting rivalry will be followed up by a concert on Wednesday, June 9, with international Greek singer, Dimitris Basis. The concert, Mr Poniris says, will mark the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution this year.
But of course, all the Greek festivities will culminate on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, when the annual Darwin Greek GleNTi Festival will be held.
