JEDDAH: The finals during the weekend in the 8th Albaik Tennis Challenge 2016 were marked by upsets in various categories with defending champions and group leaders toppled.
Defending champions in Category Lower Mix and B2, Uricane Tennis Club (UTC), were dislodged by new challengers SGS Tennis Racquet Club (SGSTRC) and Hidada Tennis Club (HTC) respectively.
In the Lower Mix category (combination of B2/C players), SGS scored a huge upset against UTC, erstwhile undefeated and group leader with a 5-0 win-loss record in the elimination rounds. SGS exacted revenge in the finals for its narrow 1-to-3 set loss against UTC in the round-robin phase, registering a big 8-point advantage after three sets, courtesy of its tandems of Rey Tablang-Nelson Ramos and Romeo Porras-Neil Sta. Clara scoring 8-3 and 8-4 respectively, thus needing only 1 point in the 4th and final set to seal the championship crown for SGSTRC.
UTC suffered another painful setback when it lost in straight sets 8-5, 8-4, 8-4 against Hidada team, powered by veterans Jun Ordonez-Joel Chan in the first set, Andrew Villan-Jojo Magdamo in the second, and Macoy Hernandez-Ryan Bonquiren in this third set to clinch the championship trophy in category B2.
Jeddah Ranao Tennis Club (JRTC), meanwhile, took the championship titles in the other categories, B1-Mix and C. JRTC scored another upset win trouncing erstwhile front-runner and unbeaten ASTEC-Deltaz Marketing team, to whom they lost via super-tie break (2/24 – 2/24) during the elimination rounds, and captured the top-prize in this team competition.
In the other finals match, Saudia City Tennis Club (SCTC) blasted the challenge of Elaf Group to claim the championship in the Middle Mix (B1/B2 combination) category in straight sets victory (8-5, 8-3, 8-5). SCTC’s pair of Sammy Tomalondog-Allan Bandilao started off strongly in the first set, followed by the tandems of Von Daligdig-Michael Landrito and Ricky Delgado-Ramil Abdua.
After 40 days of intense competition among the various tennis clubs in Jeddah, ASTEC concluded its 29th tennis tournament, which attracted 48 teams in both men’s and ladies divisions. The tournament was held daily and used all four tennis court facilities of Trio-Ranch Country Club from Oct. 1 to Nov. 11.
Organized by ASTEC under Chairman Bernie Soguilon, Tournament Director Marlon Delfin, Francis Idjao and Jun Atienza as advisers, this 8th Albaik tennis event is presented yearly in partnership with Albaik Food Systems Inc., and is supported by Deltaz Marketing, Sky Freight Forwarders, Sports Track, and Qatar Airways.
Hidada, SGS, SCTC, JRTC clinch titles in ALBAIK Tennis Challenge
Hidada, SGS, SCTC, JRTC clinch titles in ALBAIK Tennis Challenge
World’s top 20 confirmed for Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
- Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and defending champion Mirra Andreeva headline the 26th premier women’s tournament
- WTA 1000 event runs from Feb. 15-21, followed by the 34th ATP 500 tournament from Feb. 23-28
DUBAI: The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships returns in 2026 with one of the strongest WTA 1000 line-ups in its history, featuring all of the world’s top 20 players for the Women’s Week from Feb. 15-21.
The 2026 field features a complete set of top-ranked stars, including World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, World No. 2 Iga Swiatek, World No. 3 Coco Gauff, and World No. 4 Amanda Anisimova, alongside Elena Rybakina (No. 5), Jessica Pegula (No. 6), Jasmine Paolini (No. 7), 2025 champion Mirra Andreeva (No. 8), Madison Keys (No. 9) and Belinda Bencic (No. 10).
Leading the charge is Sabalenka, who returns to Dubai after a standout 2025 season highlighted by her US Open triumph, where the Belarusian claimed her fourth career Grand Slam title and secured a second consecutive win in New York. Reinforcing her position at the top of the women’s game, Sabalenka has started the 2026 season in fine form by retaining her title at the Brisbane International without dropping a set.
Six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek also returns following another exceptional season in which the Polish star captured the 2025 Wimbledon title and reached multiple WTA 1000 finals, finishing the year with one of the highest win percentages on tour.
Joining them is Gauff, who enjoyed a defining 2025 campaign with her French Open victory, the second Grand Slam title of her career and first on clay. The American 21-year-old also added a Masters 1000 trophy in Cincinnati and reached the semi-finals of both the Australian Open and US Open grand slams, closing the year inside the top three for the first time.
Defending champion Andreeva had a breakthrough season in 2025, which saw her secure a historic triumph in Dubai, making her the youngest WTA 1000 champion in history. The 18-year-old Russian followed that success with two Grand Slam quarter-finals and a rapid rise into the world’s top 15. She arrives in Dubai looking to defend the title that launched her onto the global stage.
“We are delighted to welcome all of the top 20 women’s players once again,” said Ramesh Cidambi, managing director of Dubai Duty Free and chairman of the organising committee. “The depth of talent committed for 2026 reflects the status of this event on the global tennis calendar. Dubai has become an essential stop for the world’s best players, and we look forward to another exceptional week of world-class tennis.”
The line-up also includes talents such as World No. 12 and two-time Dubai champion Elina Svitolina, as well as Canada’s World No. 17 Victoria Mboko, whose breakthrough performances propelled her into the world’s top 20 for the first time. Their presence adds further depth to a roster that cements Dubai’s position as one of the most competitive stops on the WTA calendar.
Salah Tahlak, tournament director and deputy managing director of Dubai Duty Free, said of the line-up: “Women’s tennis continues to set new standards for competitiveness and quality. With the top 20 players confirmed, spectators can expect compelling matches from the opening day. Each year our WTA event delivers incredible moments, and 2026 promises to be no different.”
The 2026 Championships will run back-to-back once again, with the women’s WTA 1000 event from Feb. 15-21 and the men’s ATP 500 tournament from Feb. 23-28.
