ABU DHABI: Olympic Games and US Open champion Andy Murray saw his Mubadala World Tennis Championship campaign last just 84 minutes yesterday when he slumped to a 6-3, 6-4 defeat to Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic.
Tipsarevic, the world No.9, will now face Spain’s Nicolas Almagro, who replaced Rafael Nadal in the three-day exhibition tournament, in Friday’s semifinals.
“I am happy with my game. I know it is an exhibition game but to play a Grand Slam champion and an Olympic Games gold medal winner and win, I am just delighted,” said Tipsarevic.
“I hope to get two more victories and that would be great going into the Australian Open.” David Ferrer also reached the semifinals with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic.
Ferrer will tackle world No.1 Novak Djokovic today for a place in Saturday’s final.
Djokovic cheesed off
Novak Djokovic yesterday denied reports that he had bought up the world’s entire supply of donkey cheese, a delicacy, which retails for around $ 500 per pound in his native Serbia.
Djokovic was reported to have purchased the cheese, known as pule, from the only farm which supplies it and that it would be served at a chain of restaurants, which he owns in Serbia.
“I did not expect this story was going to get so much attention, and everywhere in the world too,” said Djokovic.
“It is not completely true that we have bought the whole supply of donkey cheese, even though it was the first time in my life I heard that donkey cheese existed.
“There is a certain farm in Serbia that produces it and, as I understand it, it is the only farm in the world to do so, which is very interesting.” He added: “They came to our restaurant and offered co-operation, so that is all. We are now thinking and seeing what we can do with that, but it is not true that I already bought the whole supply.”
Djokovic, who is in Abu Dhabi to play in the Mubadala World Championship exhibition tournament, admitted that he was a fan of the cheese.
“It is a very expensive one and it is good quality. I have heard that they milk donkeys but I was not sure if that was possible. It is such an interesting story,” he said.
