General News
Meropi Kyriacou Honored as TNH Educator of the Year
NEW YORK – Meropi Kyriacou, the new Principal of The Cathedral School in Manhattan, was honored as The National Herald’s Educator of the Year.
Iga Swiatek, the favorite for this month’s Australian Open, was in tears after losing at the United Cup on Friday.
The US and French Open champion sobbed courtside after being thrashed 6-2, 6-2 by American Jessica Pegula in the mixed teams tournament semifinals in Sydney.
“I was just sad. But it is not the first time I cried after a lost match, nothing special,” world No.1 Swiatek said.
The victory by Pegula helped the U.S. seize a 2-0 lead against Poland, while Italy also claimed both opening rubbers against Greece.
The remaining singles will be played on Saturday, with a mixed doubles to be held if required.
Pumping her fist throughout a thrilling clash with world No. 6 Maria Sakkari, Italy’s Martina Trevisan won 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-5 in a match lasting 3 hours and 14 minutes.
The No.27 ranked left-hander danced with glee on Ken Rosewall Arena after the triumph before hugging teammates including Italian spearhead Matteo Berrettini in joyful scenes.
“Oh my God, it was a great battle today and I am really, really, really happy. It was amazing,” Trevisan said. “Sometimes I had to smile because it helped me to relax and remember that I am here in this amazing stadium with a lot of people, so life is beautiful.
“I am so happy with this because I continue to work every day to keep improving and to feel better on the court and I think I deserved it today.”
Teammate Lorenzo Musetti also scored a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Greece’s Stefanos Sakellaridis.
As compelling as Trevisan’s encounter with Sakkari proved, it was the manner of Swiatek’s defeat and her distress that was the talking point.
Swiatek had won all four of her clashes against Pegula last year and is hoping to do well at the Australian Open beginning on Jan. 16.
But the assertive play of Pegula, who adopted an aggressive position when returning serve, reaped rich rewards for the world No.3 in what proved a mismatch.
Swiatek took a lengthy toilet break at the end of the first set and was able to edge ahead for the first time when holding her opening service game to start the second set.
But Pegula held her concentration and form to break away for a convincing victory.
Swiatek downplayed her emotional reaction and dismissed suggestions that travel issues from Brisbane to Sydney on Thursday had an impact on her performance.
“I kind of felt hopeless today because mentally and physically I wasn’t able to kind of show up, even, and problem solve,” Swiatek said.
“So it is always hard when you lose, especially when you’re kind of playing for the team and your country.”
Pegula, who reached the quarter-finals in three Grand Slam tournaments last year, said she benefited from her familiarity with Ken Rosewall Arena and the swiftness of the court.
The American was based in Sydney during the group stages of the inaugural tournament, while Poland and Italy played in Brisbane and Greece featured in Perth.
“I wanted to take that as much as I could and use it as much as I could and I thought I did a really good job of playing aggressively, serving smart and returning really well,” Pegula said.
Frances Tiafoe later gave the U.S. a 2-0 lead over Poland by defeating Kacper Zuk 6-3, 6-3.
Taylor Fritz can clinch a spot in the final for the U.S. when he plays world No. 10 Hubert Hurkacz in the third singles. Berrettini has a similar opportunity for Italy when he faces Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas.
NEW YORK – Meropi Kyriacou, the new Principal of The Cathedral School in Manhattan, was honored as The National Herald’s Educator of the Year.
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A Filipino villager has been nailed to a wooden cross for the 35th time to reenact Jesus Christ’s suffering in a brutal Good Friday tradition he said he would devote to pray for peace in Ukraine, Gaza and the disputed South China Sea.
ALBANY – New York State Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, Senator Andrew Gounardes, and Senator James Skoufis honored Greek Independence at the State Capitol on March 26, welcoming His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, who offered an invocation before the Senate.
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S.
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center for the Study of Hellenic Culture presents a captivating evening with acclaimed singer-songwriter Alkinoos Ioannidis, who will perform at UCLA’s Schoenberg Hall on Saturday, April 27, 7:30 PM, in a solo concert.
ATHENS - The "OLYMPOS - Global Spiritual Center" Association presents on Saturday, April 6, at 6:00 pm, at the "Antonis Tritsis" Amphitheatre of the Cultural Center of the Municipality of Athens, 50, Acadimias Street, the truly ingenious funding proposal for the construction of Heptapolis in the wider area of Delphi, entitled "World Green Taxation Fund".