Roger Federer saves seven match points in 'miracle' escape
Melbourne: Swiss great Roger Federer said that "I believe in miracles" after he saved seven match points in a five-set nail-biter against 100th-ranked Tennys Sandgren to labour into the Australian Open semi-finals on Tuesday.
The six-time champion, struggling physically, saved three match points at 4-5 in the fourth set and four more in the tie-breaker to win 6-3, 2-6, 2-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-3 and set up a clash against either title-holder Novak Djokovic or Milos Raonic.
Federer received a rare warning for an audible obscenity before going off-court for treatment on a groin injury in the third set, but still looked hampered as he forced a fifth set against the big-serving American.
"I believe in miracles," Federer said, revealing that he thought his groin strain had ended his chances. "There could be rain, there could be all kinds of stuff.
"(I thought) just let him finish me off in style, and he didn't do that. I'm incredibly lucky tonight, today -- I don't even know what time it is."
Sandgren, achingly close to becoming the lowest-ranked player to beat Federer at the Australian Open, can count himself unlucky especially after a ball girl accidentally collided with him during the pivotal tie-breaker, which he lost.
Federer has made heavy weather of reaching his 46th Major semi-final. He was two points from defeat by John Millman in a fifth-set tie-breaker in round three, and dropped a set against 67th-ranked Marton Fucsovics in round four.
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Bima Sakhi Yojana of LIC aimed at women empowerment becomes popular
(Press Release) - The Bima Sakhi Yojana – a project aimed at women empowerment - has been received with enthusiasm across India. The Yojana was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at Panipat, Hariyana on 9th December, 2024. Within a month of launch of the Yojana, LIC has received 52,511 registrations of which 27,695 were issued appointment letters.
Sri Puneet Kumar, LIC Zonal Manager, Hyderabad informed that in the South Central Zone, 12201 applications were registered of which 6284 were given appointment letters. Nearly 3000 agents have started earning commission upon sale of Life Insurance Policies besides the fixed stipend. Addressing the gathering at the stall in All India Industrial Exhibition, Sri Puneet Kumar explained that the Yojana is applicable to any woman whose age is between 18 and 70 years and has passed 10th Class. The selected Bima Sakhi is eligible for stipend of upto Rs 7000.00 per month for a period of three years and also eligible for regular commission on the Life Insurance policies secured by her. After the stipendiary period, Bima Sakhi can continue with LIC as a regular agent and continue to earn. He said that LIC of India is proud to be a partner in Viksit Bharat by including women as partners in the nation’s progress by providing them with opportunity as BIMA SAKHI to become self-reliant.
Sri R. Sateesh Babu, Sri Uthup Joseph, Smt Saraswathi Gopakumar, Sri GBV Ramaiah, Sri Promoda Kumar Sahoo and other senior officials from LIC were present in the event.
Dated at Hyderabad on 9th January, 2025.
For further information, please contact: Regional Manager (CC),
LIC of India, South Central Zonal Office, Hyderabad.
eMail: scz_cc@licindia.com.
Visit us at www.licindia.in
