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USA Today
31-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 National Bank Open Presented by Rogers: Fils [21st] vs. Lehecka [27th] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview
In the Round of 32 at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers on Friday, Jiri Lehecka (ranked No. 27) faces Arthur Fils (No. 21). Lehecka is the favorite (-150) to get to the Round of 16 compared to the underdog Fils (+115). Hoping to watch this match? Tennis Channel will provide it, and continued coverage throughout the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers. Tennis odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Thursday at 10:35 AM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Arthur Fils vs. Jiri Lehecka matchup info Watch the Tennis Channel and more sports on Fubo! Fils vs. Lehecka Prediction Based on the implied probility from the moneyline, Fils has a 60.0% to win. Fils vs. Lehecka Betting Odds Fils vs. Lehecka matchup performance & stats
Mid East Info
31-07-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Alef Education Delivers Strong Financial Performance in H1 2025 with Steady Revenue Growth and a 75% EBITDA Margin, Accelerating Innovation and Growth
H1 2025 Revenues up 1% Year-on-Year YoY to AED 357.3M, driven by steady core UAE portfolio, new contract wins and growth outside ADEK. H1 2025 EBITDA up 3% YoY to AED 267.9M, with an improved 75% margin (+100 basis points) on disciplined cost management; H1 2025 Net Profit similarly up 3% YoY to AED 232.3M with a 65% margin (+100 basis points). AED 497.1 million cash and zero debt as of 30 June 2025, underpinning disciplined global expansion and attractive shareholder returns. A guaranteed dividend payout of AED 135 million for FY 2025 to be paid in two equal installments, AED 67.5 million interim dividend approved for payout in August 2025, implying an interim dividend per share of ~ 5 Fils. Miqyas Al Dhad reaches 87% completion, on track for launch in Q4 2025. Successful Field Test Survey results sparking strong interest and 7 MOUs signed. Collaborations with Microsoft and Core42 to boost AI and sovereign-cloud capabilities. Abu Dhabi, UAE –July 2025: Alef Education Holding Plc (the 'Company' or 'Alef Education' or 'ADX: ALEFEDT'), an award-winning AI-powered learning solutions provider redefining the educational experience for K-12 students, based in Abu Dhabi, today announced its financial results for the six-month period ending 30 June 2025 ('H1 2025'), marking the Company's first full year as a listed entity and its fifth earnings release since listing on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange ('ADX') in June 2024. Alef Education continues to deliver strong results in H1 2025 with revenues reaching AED 357.3 million, maintaining a strong EBITDA margin of 75% on the back of continued cost optimization initiatives. Supported by prudent cashflow generation and an attractive dividend profile, Alef Education continues to embark on a disciplined growth strategy, accelerated by value accretive global partnerships and collaborations. Geoffrey Alphonso, Chief Executive Officer of Alef Education, stated: 'The first half of 2025 balanced expansion and profitability for Alef Education. We advanced on growing our presence internationally while delivering a market-leading 75 % EBITDA margin. Recent milestones like the imminent Miqyas Al Dhad progress and high-level ministerial engagements in Indonesia and Senegal demonstrate how Alef Education is redefining K-12 learning. With a debt-free balance sheet and a transparent dividend commitment, we continue to invest in the next wave of digital education for students and shareholders alike.' Stable H1 2025 Growth Backed by Leading Margins & Strong Cash Flow Alef Education reported solid financial performance during the first half of 2025, supported by the continued strength of its long-term partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK') and expanding traction across both UAE and international markets. H1 2025 Revenue increased 1% YoY to AED 357.3 million, primarily driven by stable contributions from the core UAE portfolio alongside robust growth in other business and government contracts outside of ADEK. Through disciplined cost management and operational optimization, H1 2025 EBITDA rose 3% YoY to AED 267.9 million, resulting in a market-leading 75% margin, a 100-basis points expansion compared to the prior year. H1 2025 Net profit increased 3% YoY to AED 232.3 million, reflecting a 100-basis point expansion in margin to 65%. Maintaining its focus on profitability and cash efficiency, Alef Education generated healthy free cash flow. As of 30 June 2025, the Company held AED 497.1 million in cash with zero debt and effective working capital management, providing a robust platform to fund disciplined global expansion while sustaining attractive shareholder returns and dividend yield. Reliable and Attractive Dividend Policy: Beyond driving growth, Alef Education's strong financial foundation and guaranteed ADEK payments enable the Company to deliver sustained value to shareholders through a transparent and robust dividend policy. In line with its IPO commitment, Alef Education guarantees a minimum annual dividend payout of AED 135 million to its 20% free-float investors for FY2025, distributed semi-annually. The 2025 dividend will be paid in two equal installments; AED 67.5 million interim dividend approved for payout in August 2025 and the second installment of AED 67.5 million will be paid in April 2026. Looking ahead, the Board intends to distribute approximately 90% of annual profits. A debt-free balance sheet, healthy cash flows and recent inclusion in the MSCI UAE Small Cap Index underpin management's confidence in the sustainability of these payouts. A Core UAE Foundation Supported by International Portfolio Growth: While the ADEK contract constitutes the core of Alef Education's business, the Company is actively pursuing an opportunistic global growth strategy, particularly considering high-margin and value accretive opportunities. To support its goals of geographic expansion, revenue diversification, and customer and product portfolio growth, Alef Education generated > AED 300 million high value leads across both public and private sectors in the MENA region and internationally during H1 2025. Building on its strategy to deepen public-sector collaborations, Alef Education entered several new markets in H1 2025. Early in the year, the Company expanded into Morocco in support of the Education Reform Plan 2022–2026 and made substantial progress on its MOU with Nahdet Misr to collaborate across the GCC, Levant and North Africa. It also enhanced its presence in Indonesia, aligning with national digital-education objectives through high-level ministerial discussions aimed at securing long-term partnerships and monetization. Most recently, following ongoing talks with the Senegalese government, a high-level Senegalese delegation visited Alef Education's Abu Dhabi headquarters in May 2025 to explore long-term digital-education cooperation. Miqyas Al Dhad Readiness for Launch in Q4 2025: Miqyas Al Dhad , the region's first Arabic reading scale aimed at advancing Arabic Reading proficiency for Grades 1–12 Arabic speakers, is now 87% complete and set to launch in Q4 2025. Developed in collaboration with Arab countries' Education ministries, the initiative supports Alef Education's growth strategy by creating new, sustainable revenue streams in Arabic language proficiency. In H1 2025, a Field Test Survey (FTS') involving 110K students across 204 schools in 70 cities across 9 countries was successfully completed. Early results demonstrate strong demand for Miqyas Al Dhad: findings have been shared with 12 government bodies, and 7 MOUs have been signed with major publishing and assessment firms. Supported by targeted brand-building efforts, like conference presentations, thought-leadership campaigns and focused media outreach, Miqyas Al Dhad is gaining significant momentum as a landmark Arabic-literacy initiative. Strategic Alliances and Global Recognition Accelerate International Footprint: In H1 2025, Alef Education strengthened its reputation as a trusted global leader in AI-powered K-12 learning through a series of high-profile collaborations. In May 2025, the Company entered a landmark alliance with Microsoft and Core42, G42's sovereign-cloud and AI-infrastructure arm. By combining Microsoft's global cloud platform with Core42's sovereign-cloud capabilities, Alef Education is positioned to accelerate growth, deliver cutting-edge AI-driven learning experiences, and unlock regional and international expansion opportunities. Additionally, Alef Education has gained significant regional recognition with the recent wins of two new awards for Innovation and Leadership at the MEA Business Achievement Awards ceremony held in Dubai in June 2025. Alef AI Tutor won the Ground-Breaking Products/Services award in Education & Learning, while CEO Geoffrey Alphonso received the Outstanding Leadership accolade in the HR, Training & Education category. The Company's innovations were also spotlighted in the global Reuters Vision 2045 documentary series, which showcased how Alef Education is transforming the global education landscape through its innovative AI-driven solutions and initiatives. Outlook: Alef Education heads into the rest of 2025 on solid ground. Long-term UAE government contracts, new collaborations such as the one with Microsoft and Core42, and rising interest from markets like Senegal, Indonesia, and Morocco are set to keep momentum strong. The Company's financial outlook remains unchanged from what was disclosed in Q1 2025. Revenue is expected to witness 3-4% growth in FY 2025 YoY. Consistent with its seasonal billing cycle, where the start of the academic year in September drives the bulk of annual revenue growth, H2 is typically expected to generate higher revenue. EBITDA for the year is expected to increase by 8-9%, generating a higher margin of 70% backed by strict cost optimization efforts coupled with revenue growth. Similarly, Net Profit is expected to increase by 6-7% resulting in a strong and consistent margin of over 60%. Backed by strong cash generation, a debt-free balance sheet, and an assured AED 135 million dividend for FY 2025, Alef Education is well positioned to fund new AI-driven innovations, extend its international reach, and keep delivering attractive, reliable returns to shareholders while advancing the next wave of digital learning. AED millions H1 2025 H1 2024 % Change Revenues 357.3 354.2 1% Total Expenses 109.4 112.5 3% EBITDA* 267.9 261.1 3% EBITDA Margin 75% 74% +100bps Net Profit 232.3 226.2 3% Net Profit margin 65% 64% +100bps * EBITDA is earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortization and lease expenses (interest and depreciation on right of use assets). About Alef Education: Founded in 2016, Alef Education (ALEFEDT on the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange) is an award-winning AI-powered learning solutions provider that is redefining the educational experience for K-12 students. The Company has established a strong presence in the education technology sector, operating in approximately 14,000 schools across the UAE, the US, Indonesia and Morocco. Its flagship AI-integrated Alef Platform offers personalised learning experiences to approximately 1.5 million registered students, enabling them to work at their own pace and reach their full potential anytime, anywhere. With a 100% penetration rate in Cycle 2 (Grades 5-8) and Cycle 3 (Grades 9-12), Alef Education has a proven track record of improving student engagement and achievement, with test scores in Indonesia increasing by 8.5% in Arabic and maths. The award-winning Alef Platform provides AI-powered learning and teaching solutions that use real-time data to drive improvements across the education system. Alef Pathways is a student-centred, self-paced supplemental math program. Abjadiyat is an Arabic language learning platform that provides engaging and interactive content from kindergarten to Grade 4. Arabits is a complete Arabic learning system for non-native speakers that helps students of all ages learn, practice, and improve their Arabic language skills using AI. Alongside supporting students throughout their educational journey, Alef Education supports 65,000 educators with tools that enrich instruction and enable high-impact interventions to improve student learning outcomes. Alef Education promotes engagement, achievement and equity in learning, preparing students for success in an ever-evolving world.
The Age
05-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘Excited' De Minaur locks in Wimbledon showdown with Djokovic
The anguished look on de Minaur's face after the Fils win, at a time when he should have been joyous, remains etched in onlookers' memory. 'It's funny how life works. Here we are a year later, and I'm going to get that match-up [but] a round earlier,' de Minaur said. 'But still, it was a brutal time for me last year, having to deal with all of those emotions. Here we are a year later; feeling good, ready to go, and I'm going to get my chance again, so I'm excited for that.' De Minaur soared to a career-best No.6 in the world despite not being able to play his Wimbledon quarter-final, but missed the next seven weeks – bar an Olympic doubles cameo with Alexei Popyrin – before reaching the US Open quarter-finals. He sat out for another six weeks trying to recover after that, and returned only to complete his goal of qualifying for the year-end tour finals, but was not the same player for the rest of the season. The Djokovic duel presents the chance for de Minaur, who is 12 years Djokovic's junior, to complete some unfinished business. 'I think there are definitely two versions of myself. Last year was a version of myself that was very confident and ready to kind of take on the world. I just got stopped in my tracks,' he said. 'I would say the version that I am right now is a lot wiser, and I've lived through a lot more experiences. I've played a lot more big matches. I think I'm more prepared mentally going into this next match. 'Whilst maybe my level last year was very high, and it was quite dangerous; I feel like this year, mentally, I'm in a really good place. I'm hoping that the game, the tennis, is going to come along.' Loading The Australian star dropped one set in the first three rounds and has largely impressed after admitting he was suffering from mental fatigue after his second-round exit at Roland-Garros to Alexander Bublik from two sets up. A first-up defeat to Jiri Lehecka at Queen's Club, where de Minaur has traditionally performed well, was also a shock result, but he has hit his stride with a friendly draw at SW19. Dominant victories over Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena and Frenchman Arthur Cazaux – after dropping the first set – advanced him to the third round, where he would have expected to take on Machac before Holmgren's heroics in his maiden grand slam draw. The average ranking of de Minaur's first three opponents was 127, so the Djokovic match-up will be a titanic step-up. But he will at least be comforted that Holmgren provided some resistance. De Minaur needed eight break points to finally assert his authority on the contest late in the first set after the Dane continually produced breathtaking hitting to dodge the trouble he found himself in on serve. There were several unreturned serves and others that drew short balls back that Holmgren flayed for winners off his forehand. He averaged 207km/h on his first serve and hit one at 226km/h, so de Minaur – the tour's top-rated returner – had his work cut out. De Minaur broke through when Holmgren crashed a forehand into the net to end an 18-point game, then served out the opening set with relative ease. The second set was headed the same way when de Minaur broke again in the ninth game, but Holmgren came roaring back to restrict him to 0-40 before breaking back on his fourth chance in the game. By then, the inspired Dane's confidence was soaring and his fearless hitting helped him force a tiebreaker, during which he threatened to level the match at a set-all. Everything could have been different if de Minaur's second serve at five-all in the tiebreak landed narrowly longer rather than collecting chalk as Holmgren misfired on return. The Australian apologised for his fortune, then watched as Holmgren double-faulted to gift him the set. Another Holmgren double-fault handed de Minaur a 4-2 edge in the third set, and he eventually booked his round-of-16 berth on his third match point with a third ace. Beaten Kasatkina off to Melbourne Kasatkina's straight-sets defeat to former Billie Jean King Cup teammate Samsonova will see her pack her bags for her new home city of Melbourne within the next few days. The 28-year-old, who gained permanent residency in Australia in March and was competing at her second major at Wimbledon for her adopted country, struggled to keep pace with the big-striking Samsonova, particularly on serve. Two loose service games sealed Kasatkina's first-set fate, and her day worsened when her shirt got caught on her earring and meant she could not contest her shot on the final point of the opening game of the second set. Samsonova broke for 2-0 then saved consecutive break-back points before rain intervened for the next two hours. Kasatkina snatched the first two points on resumption – the second after a wild Samsonova forehand – but every time she made an inroad, her Russian rival would reassert her authority. Loading 'I knew that it was going to be a very tough match because Liudmila is in great shape, winning a lot of matches, especially on grass,' Kasatkina said. 'Of course, I think I could do better on my side, but I also have to give her credit – she played a very, very good match.' Kasatkina will make a whirlwind trip to Melbourne to try and find a home, and continue her case to be an Australian citizen, which she needs to be before representing her new country in the BJK Cup. The world No.18 also needs ITF approval after already playing for, and winning the BJK Cup title with, Russia in 2021. She told this masthead before Wimbledon that there was an outside chance of her playing in Australia's BJK Cup tie in Hobart in November. 'In the next couple of days, I'm going to fly to Australia. I know that it's winter there, so it's the first time in my life I'm going to experience an Australian winter, not a summer,' she said. 'I'm going there for [only] a couple of days because the calendar is pretty tight. I need to become a citizen first [before playing BJK Cup for Australia], and after that, they can move forward. But before that, there is not much room for progress.'
Sydney Morning Herald
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Excited' De Minaur locks in Wimbledon showdown with Djokovic
The anguished look on de Minaur's face after the Fils win, at a time when he should have been joyous, remains etched in onlookers' memory. 'It's funny how life works. Here we are a year later, and I'm going to get that match-up [but] a round earlier,' de Minaur said. 'But still, it was a brutal time for me last year, having to deal with all of those emotions. Here we are a year later; feeling good, ready to go, and I'm going to get my chance again, so I'm excited for that.' De Minaur soared to a career-best No.6 in the world despite not being able to play his Wimbledon quarter-final, but missed the next seven weeks – bar an Olympic doubles cameo with Alexei Popyrin – before reaching the US Open quarter-finals. He sat out for another six weeks trying to recover after that, and returned only to complete his goal of qualifying for the year-end tour finals, but was not the same player for the rest of the season. The Djokovic duel presents the chance for de Minaur, who is 12 years Djokovic's junior, to complete some unfinished business. 'I think there are definitely two versions of myself. Last year was a version of myself that was very confident and ready to kind of take on the world. I just got stopped in my tracks,' he said. 'I would say the version that I am right now is a lot wiser, and I've lived through a lot more experiences. I've played a lot more big matches. I think I'm more prepared mentally going into this next match. 'Whilst maybe my level last year was very high, and it was quite dangerous; I feel like this year, mentally, I'm in a really good place. I'm hoping that the game, the tennis, is going to come along.' Loading The Australian star dropped one set in the first three rounds and has largely impressed after admitting he was suffering from mental fatigue after his second-round exit at Roland-Garros to Alexander Bublik from two sets up. A first-up defeat to Jiri Lehecka at Queen's Club, where de Minaur has traditionally performed well, was also a shock result, but he has hit his stride with a friendly draw at SW19. Dominant victories over Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena and Frenchman Arthur Cazaux – after dropping the first set – advanced him to the third round, where he would have expected to take on Machac before Holmgren's heroics in his maiden grand slam draw. The average ranking of de Minaur's first three opponents was 127, so the Djokovic match-up will be a titanic step-up. But he will at least be comforted that Holmgren provided some resistance. De Minaur needed eight break points to finally assert his authority on the contest late in the first set after the Dane continually produced breathtaking hitting to dodge the trouble he found himself in on serve. There were several unreturned serves and others that drew short balls back that Holmgren flayed for winners off his forehand. He averaged 207km/h on his first serve and hit one at 226km/h, so de Minaur – the tour's top-rated returner – had his work cut out. De Minaur broke through when Holmgren crashed a forehand into the net to end an 18-point game, then served out the opening set with relative ease. The second set was headed the same way when de Minaur broke again in the ninth game, but Holmgren came roaring back to restrict him to 0-40 before breaking back on his fourth chance in the game. By then, the inspired Dane's confidence was soaring and his fearless hitting helped him force a tiebreaker, during which he threatened to level the match at a set-all. Everything could have been different if de Minaur's second serve at five-all in the tiebreak landed narrowly longer rather than collecting chalk as Holmgren misfired on return. The Australian apologised for his fortune, then watched as Holmgren double-faulted to gift him the set. Another Holmgren double-fault handed de Minaur a 4-2 edge in the third set, and he eventually booked his round-of-16 berth on his third match point with a third ace. Beaten Kasatkina off to Melbourne Kasatkina's straight-sets defeat to former Billie Jean King Cup teammate Samsonova will see her pack her bags for her new home city of Melbourne within the next few days. The 28-year-old, who gained permanent residency in Australia in March and was competing at her second major at Wimbledon for her adopted country, struggled to keep pace with the big-striking Samsonova, particularly on serve. Two loose service games sealed Kasatkina's first-set fate, and her day worsened when her shirt got caught on her earring and meant she could not contest her shot on the final point of the opening game of the second set. Samsonova broke for 2-0 then saved consecutive break-back points before rain intervened for the next two hours. Kasatkina snatched the first two points on resumption – the second after a wild Samsonova forehand – but every time she made an inroad, her Russian rival would reassert her authority. Loading 'I knew that it was going to be a very tough match because Liudmila is in great shape, winning a lot of matches, especially on grass,' Kasatkina said. 'Of course, I think I could do better on my side, but I also have to give her credit – she played a very, very good match.' Kasatkina will make a whirlwind trip to Melbourne to try and find a home, and continue her case to be an Australian citizen, which she needs to be before representing her new country in the BJK Cup. The world No.18 also needs ITF approval after already playing for, and winning the BJK Cup title with, Russia in 2021. She told this masthead before Wimbledon that there was an outside chance of her playing in Australia's BJK Cup tie in Hobart in November. 'In the next couple of days, I'm going to fly to Australia. I know that it's winter there, so it's the first time in my life I'm going to experience an Australian winter, not a summer,' she said. 'I'm going there for [only] a couple of days because the calendar is pretty tight. I need to become a citizen first [before playing BJK Cup for Australia], and after that, they can move forward. But before that, there is not much room for progress.'
Daily Mirror
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Arthur Fils clear on Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic debate
The question of who is the greatest male tennis player of all time is a hot topic, and while Novak Djokovic is out in front in terms of Grand Slam titles, Arthur Fils sides differently Arthur Fils has firmly planted his flag in the ongoing debate over who reigns supreme among tennis legends Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. The trio, often referred to as the sport's 'big three', have been at the pinnacle of men's tennis for nearly two decades, with only Djokovic, aged 37, still competing at the highest level. Federer hung up his racket in 2022 with a tally of 20 Grand Slam titles. Meanwhile, Nadal retired at the end of last year with 22 Grand Slams under his belt after grappling with injuries. Djokovic leads the pack with 24 Grand Slam victories, yet this doesn't settle the debate on who is the greatest. World No. 14 Fils has declared that, in his view, the suave Swiss maestro Federer is the top male player of their time. Sidelined from the French Open due to a back injury, Fils was quizzed by Prime Video Sport France to rank players: Question: Roger or Rafa? Answer: "Roger. I love Roger." Fils had to bow out of the competition following an exhilarating five-set win against Jaume Munar in the second round, explaining: "I had some issue with the back since a long time and during the match against Munar it [got] worse. "[I] got some stress fracture. What we decide with the team it was better to stop now, because if I'm stopping now, I could stop for only four to six weeks. "If I was pushing myself too much, I would probably stop for a couple of months. This is not what we are trying to do, so [we] had to make a choice." As for Djokovic, the Serbian ace is in prime position to clinch his 25th Grand Slam title after he dispatched British hopeful Cameron Norrie in straight sets during the fourth round at Roland Garros, marking his 100th career victory at the French Open, reports the Express. "Considering my opponent's form and the occasion, I think it was a very good match from my side, a very solid performance," Djokovic said. "A straight-sets win again. I'm pleased with the way things are going. Obviously matches only get tougher. I look forward to the next challenge." In the quarter-finals, Djokovic is set to take on German third seed Alexander Zverev, who progressed after Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands had to retire due to injury in the second set of their match.
