Two Arab players will be contesting this year’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, with Lebanon’s Hady Habib and Tunisian Aziz Dougaz both accepting wildcards into the singles main draw.
The duo made waves last month after successfully qualifying for the Australian Open, where Habib became the first Lebanese player in the Open Era to win a singles grand slam main draw match, while Dougaz put up a great fight against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in the first round.
The 216th-ranked Dougaz has been drawn to face Belgium’s Zizou Bergs in the Dubai opening round, while Habib, ranked 166 in the world, will kick off his campaign against Australia’s Alexei Popyrin.
Habib is making his Dubai main draw debut this week after contesting the qualifying rounds back in 2022, where he lost a close three-setter to eventual finalist Jiri Vesely.
“I played a really good player who ended up playing the main draw and beating Djokovic – Jiri Vesely. It was a tough match, he served super well,” Habib told The National.
“I got a lot of experience, it was nice to play here. But this time is different. I’m in the main draw, got a wildcard, which I want to thank the tournament organisation and the director for granting me the wildcard. It’s huge for me.”
At the Australian Open last month, Habib lost in the second round to French world No 14 Ugo Humbert, who will be defending his title in Dubai, having lifted the ATP 500 trophy here 12 months ago.
“He’s a really nice player. I played him in Melbourne. He had a fantastic tournament. It’s nice to see him here, he has a wildcard, he can play some good matches in one of the best tournaments ever,” Humbert said of Habib on Saturday at the draw ceremony.
Humbert successfully defended his title in Marseille six days ago and will be hoping to do the same in Dubai, where main draw action commences on Monday.
The French lefty, seeded fifth in the Emirates, has a brutal opener against in-form Czech Jiri Lehecka, who knocked out Carlos Alcaraz en route to the semi-finals in Doha this week.
“The draw is tough, so it won’t be easy to do it again,” said Humbert.
“It’s super nice to be back. I love this tournament. It’s the best title of my career. It’s nice to play here again. I have great memories and I’ll try to do it like last year.
“I like the conditions here because it’s quite fast. So I like it because I have an aggressive game, which works well here.”
Daniil Medvedev is the top seed in Dubai and has a tricky opening test against big-serving Jan-Lennard Struff.
The Russian is making his fifth appearance at the tournament and was crowned champion here in 2023.
Medvedev retired one set into his quarter-final against Felix Auger-Aliassime in Doha on Thursday citing food poisoning but should be good to go for the start of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Another former champion in the draw is Andrey Rublev, who triumphed in Dubai in 2022.
The second seed, who is contesting the Doha final later on Saturday, will return to the UAE 12 months after his shocking disqualification for screaming in the face of a line judge during his semi-final clash with Alexander Bublik.
Rublev will take on former US Open champion Marin Cilic in the Dubai first round.
Other standout openers include a mouthwatering showdown between Gael Monfils and Matteo Berrettini, and a meeting between former Dubai semi-finalist Dan Evans and Russian ex-top-10 player Karen Khachanov.
BELGIUM%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3EGoalkeepers%3A%20Thibaut%20Courtois%2C%20Simon%20Mignolet%2C%20Koen%20Casteels%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDefenders%3A%20Jan%20Vertonghen%2C%20Toby%20Alderweireld%2C%20Leander%20Dendoncker%2C%20Zeno%20Debast%2C%20Arthur%20Theate%2C%20Wout%20Faes%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMidfielders%3A%20Hans%20Vanaken%2C%20Axel%20Witsel%2C%20Youri%20Tielemans%2C%20Amadou%20Onana%2C%20Kevin%20De%20Bruyne%2C%20Yannick%20Carrasco%2C%20Thorgan%20Hazard%2C%20Timothy%20Castagne%2C%20Thomas%20Meunier%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EForwards%3A%20Romelu%20Lukaku%2C%20Michy%20Batshuayi%2C%20Lo%C3%AFs%20Openda%2C%20Charles%20De%20Ketelaere%2C%20Eden%20Hazard%2C%20Jeremy%20Doku%2C%20Dries%20Mertens%2C%20Leandro%20Trossard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Five%20calorie-packed%20Ramadan%20drinks
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Healthy tips to remember
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
Signs%20of%20%20%20%20%20%20%20heat%20stroke
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Roll of honour: Who won what in 2018/19?
West Asia Premiership: Winners – Bahrain; Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership: Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens: Winners – Dubai Hurricanes; Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference: Winners – Dubai Tigers; Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
England ODI squad
Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl
Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: Dh99,000
On sale: now
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
