SA’S most affordable SUV
THE NEW Suzuki Vitara Brezza has gone on sale in Mzansi and with prices starting at R244 900, it’s one of the country’s most affordable SUVS.
The Brezza hails from Maruti Suzuki in India and while it shares its 2500mm wheelbase with the regular Vitara, it’s a good 180mm shorter and 15mm wider, and with a ground clearance of 198mm, it’s also 13mm higher off the ground. The regular Vitara, incidentally, will soldier on as a “flagship” model, and it’s currently priced from R310 900.
All Brezza models are powered by
Suzuki’s normally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine, which produces 77kw and 138Nm. Power goes to the front wheels only, and buyers can choose between a five-speed manual and fourspeed automatic transmission.
There’s also a choice between GL and GLX spec grades, but even the base model is relatively well-stocked, with standard features such as automatic climate control, SLDA touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Carplay connectivity, reverse camera, multi-function steering wheel and electric fold-in mirrors.
Safety kit includes driver and passenger airbags, ISOFIX mountings and ABS brakes, but sadly there is no mention of any kind of stability control.
The GLX adds cruise control to the standard features mix, along with keyless entry and push-button start, auto-dimming rearview mirror, cooled glovebox, auto windscreen wipers and a leather-covered steering wheel.
The GL’S 16-inch steel wheels make way for alloy wheels in the GLX and the latter is also available with twotone roof colour options.
Both models are sold with a fiveyear/200 000km warranty and fouryear/60000km service plan.
There is also a Toyota version, the Urban Cruiser, coming next month.
NOVAK Djokovic’s aura of invincibility at Rod Laver Arena wavered under the pressure of Frances Tiafoe yesterday, but the Serbian rose to the challenge to claim a 6-3 6-7(3) 7-6(2) 6-3 win and reach the third round of the Australian Open.
The double-defending champion has rarely been tested so early at his favourite Grand Slam, but he had his hands full against American Tiafoe, whose sparkling tennis revived memories of his exhilarating run to the 2019 quarter-finals.
“Very tough match,” said Djokovic on court, his voice faint and hoarse from the battle.
“Also difficult conditions. While we had sun on the court, it was very, very warm.
“I want to give a hand to Frances again
for a great fight. It was a fantastic match.
“If I have to choose obviously, I would like to have these kinds of matches in the opening week.”
Djokovic is unbeaten on the Melbourne Park centre court since an injury-hampered fourth round defeat to South Korea’s Chung Hyeon in the 2018 tournament.
“When you win a lot on a certain court, you feel more comfortable and confident,” said the Serb, who is bidding for a recordextending ninth title at Melbourne Park and 18th Grand Slam crown in total.
“It feels right, it feels like my living room here. It’s only I’m not sitting on a couch.”
In the evening, Nick Kyrgios made a sensational comeback in the second round, saving two match points to beat Ugo Humbert 5-7 6-4 3-6 7-6(2) 6-4 in a febrile atmosphere on John Cain Arena.
Roared on by a crowd making up in passion for what they lacked in numbers, Kyrgios scrapped his way back into the contest time and again to secure a third-round date with US Open champion Dominic Thiem.
Meanwhile, Serena Williams said she played better when she was not thinking quite as much after reaching the third round for the 19th time with a 6-3 6-0 victory over Nina Stojanovic.
The American, again sporting her distinctive one-legged leotard, needed to find her best game at times in the first set against a spirited Serbian 15 years her junior, who was playing in her fourth Grand
Slam.
Williams ramped up her serve to see off the danger before putting the pressure back on her opponent with some booming service returns, running out a comfortable winner on a sun-drenched Rod Laver Arena.
“I wasn’t thinking so much in the second set,” the 39-year-old said.
“I think sometimes … Even with my serve, I over-think it. When I don’t think about it and I’m just like, whatever, it goes in. But that’s clearly not the way to do it.”
Next up for Williams in her quest to land her 24th Grand Slam singles title and match Margaret Court’s long-standing record is a third-round date with Anastasia Potapova.
In other women’s action, Naomi Osaka dreamt that she would lose her second-round match, but the reality was a comfortable 6-2 6-3 victory over Caroline Garcia.
Garcia was unable to muster up a single break point as the Japanese third seed put in a rock-solid performance punctuated with 10 aces on a balmy evening on Rod Laver Arena.
“Going into this match, I was really nervous and I actually had a really bad dream about it,” Osaka told reporters.
“For me, my dreams are very telling of the future. Like, usually I have dreams and they come true. Last night I had a dream that I lost this match, and I really didn’t feel good about it.” The US Open champion will next face Ons Jabeur. | Reuters