Saudi tennis star Yara Alhogbani confirmed for Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open

Saudi's Yara Alhogbani has been confirmed for 2024 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open. (Supplied)
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Updated 24 January 2024
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Saudi tennis star Yara Alhogbani confirmed for Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open

  • Kingdom’s first female professional awarded wild card for qualifiers at tournament
  • Grand Slam-winner Naomi Osaka recently named as wild card entrant

ABU DHABI: With the start of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open less than two weeks away, three additional wild cards have been announced, with Saudi Arabia’s Yara Alhogbani and Japan’s Ena Koike entering the qualifiers, while Filipina Alexandra Eala will participate in the main draw at the second instalment of the tournament.

This year’s competition takes place at the International Tennis Center, Zayed Sports City, from Feb. 3 to 11, featuring a star-studded line-up including Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, Greece’s Maria Sakkari, and Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic.

With Grand Slam winners Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu, along with fan favorite Ons Jabeur, also competing, tennis supporters can look forward to watching many of the world’s best female players challenge for glory at the WTA 500 event.

Having turned professional at the age of 14, Alhogbani became the first-ever Saudi woman to win a professional tennis event in 2022, defeating Tamara Ermakova to claim the J5 Isa Town tournament in Bahrain.

The 19-year-old said: “I’m very happy to have been awarded a wild card for the qualifiers at this year’s Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open and I’m looking forward to testing myself against some great players.

“It’s so pleasing to see these types of tournaments take place in the Middle East and I’m sure it will be another exciting competition.”

Koike, a quarterfinalist at the 2023 US Open junior singles tournament, said: “I’m very excited about competing at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, it’s a great opportunity to be part of such a prestigious event.”

Eala, a three-time junior Grand Slam winner, will join a fiercely talented main draw, alongside some of the world’s top players. The 17-year-old secured her first junior singles prize at the 2022 US Open having previously won doubles titles at both the French Open and Australian Open.

She said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for me to participate in a big competition and gain additional experience at the highest level.

“At this stage of my career, I need to test myself against the best players, and I can’t wait to play in front of the UAE tennis fans.”

Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open tournament director, Nigel Gupta, said: “With the tournament now less than two weeks away, we are really pleased to announce Alexandra, Yara, and Ena, three talented young players, as part of the event.

“It’s important for us to showcase not only the leading players in the world right now, but also some aspiring talents, and I’m sure fans attending will enjoy watching all three players perform,” he added.


Sinner does not expect easy road on return from doping ban

Sinner speaks at a media event with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup trophy following his victory against Germany's Alexander Zv
Updated 26 April 2025
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Sinner does not expect easy road on return from doping ban

  • Sinner was assured of retaining the top ranking for his home tournament after his closest challenger crashed to an early defeat
  • Sinner said there were plenty of positives from his enforced absence from the tour

April 26 : Jannik Sinner held onto his world number one ranking ahead of his return from a three-month doping ban, but the Italian does not expect his comeback to be as smooth when he takes to the court again at the Rome Masters next month.
Sinner has not played since winning the Australian Open at the start of the season and accepted a ban in February following a deal with the World Anti-Doping Agency, which had challenged a tribunal’s decision to clear him after two positive tests.
The 23-year-old was allowed to return to training on April 13 and his suspension will end on May 4, before his competitive return at the Italian Open, which gets underway three days later.
Sinner, who spent time building fitness mindful of the French Open starting on May 25, was assured of retaining the top ranking for his home tournament after his closest challenger Alexander Zverev crashed to an early defeat in Monte Carlo.
“We’re training very hard. Hopefully we’ll get some momentum going again ahead of the clay season. It certainly won’t be easy for me,” Sinner told broadcaster ORF Sudtirol.
“The first games will be really difficult. But hopefully I’ll be able to get back into the rhythm and then we’ll see how it goes.”
Sinner, who trained with Britain’s world number six Jack Draper at the Tennis Club de Beaulieu in France recently, said there were plenty of positives from his enforced absence from the tour.
“I think at the beginning of the three months, it was quite nice,” Sinner added.
“A bit of time away from all the grind, I spent time with family, with friends. I was doing new things and getting to know myself better, finding out where I stand.
“I think it helped me a lot.”


Ons Jabeur returns from injury seeking elusive top form

Ons Jabeur of Tunisia returns a shot against Jasmine Paolini of Italy during their match at Hard Rock Stadium on March 22, 2025.
Updated 25 April 2025
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Ons Jabeur returns from injury seeking elusive top form

  • Jabeur tells Arab News she is ‘glad’ to have taken time to heal
  • Tunisian is playing at the Madrid Open, which she won in 2022

MADRID: There is a quote from the animated movie “Ratatouille” that Tunisian tennis player Ons Jabeur loves.

The character, chef Auguste Gusteau, says: “You must be imaginative, strong-hearted. You must try things that may not work.

“And you must not let anyone define your limits because of where you come from. Your only limit is your soul.”

As the highest-ranked African and Arab player in tennis history, Jabeur has certainly never let where she comes from define her limits.

“I love that quote because it connects believing with not giving up.

“‘The only limit is your soul,’ that’s what he says. And honestly that touched me. I love it,” the three-time Grand Slam finalist told Arab News on the sidelines of the ongoing Madrid Open.

Jabeur is a former champion in Madrid. When she clinched the title in 2022, she became the first Arab and African woman to win a WTA 1000 title.

In the weeks that followed, she reached the final in Rome, won Berlin, rose to a career-high ranking of No. 2 in the world and made it to the Wimbledon final.

The 30-year-old’s journey is a series of history-making feats.

And as someone who has inspired millions across the globe, it was particularly meaningful to her when she met another Arab icon on the eve of the Madrid Open this week.

At the players’ restaurant at the Caja Magica, Jabeur and members of her team were spotted dining with none other than Morocco’s Nawal El-Moutawakel.

The Moroccan athlete won the 400-meter hurdles at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, to become the first African and Arab woman to win an Olympic gold medal.

Jabeur was thrilled to meet El-Moutawakel for the first time. “She’s amazing,” said Jabeur, who is a three-time Olympian.

“It was such an honor for me to know her personally and to know her stories. She’s so fun, her energy is amazing. And honestly, it makes me feel like a proud Arab woman to meet an Arab icon like that.”

Jabeur has spent the past month on the sidelines recovering from a calf injury she sustained during her third-round clash with Jasmine Paolini at the Miami Open.

She returns to action on Friday in the Spanish capital, where she is due to face Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in the second round.

“I’m feeling much better. I took my time. I’m glad I took some time off. I took a lot of time to do rehab. And now I’m feeling, let’s put it, 90 percent good,” the Tunisian said ahead of her Madrid opener.

“I spent two weeks (at home in Tunis). I also went to travel a little bit to just enjoy time in France and see my family. But yeah, it’s been so good to be home. I’m starting to like it, which is not a good sign,” she added with a laugh.

“But yeah, really, this year, I just want to listen to my body. I’m done forcing my body to play any tournaments that I don’t feel like playing and just try to enjoy my time as much as I can.”

Jabeur has had bad luck with injuries as of late. She had to shut down her season in early August last year, missing the US Open, due to a shoulder problem, and came back at the start of 2025 in Australia ranked 42 in the world.

Now back in the top 30, Jabeur is pacing herself as she searches for her best form, and says she has been trying to see the positive side of her recent injury hiatuses.

“Sometimes I try to see the good in it. When I get injured, I have so much time at home, which is good, it’s nice. But yeah, I get a little bit tired of coming back to the tournaments, actually.

“But I think, I’m just taking it slow and let’s see what the future holds,” she said.

Whether she is in peak form, or returning from an injury layoff, Jabeur continues to be a positive presence on the tennis tour.

A popular figure among her peers, Jabeur shows up to work every day with a big smile on her face, spreading good vibes on and off the court.

After over a decade on the circuit, what keeps Jabeur eager to wake up in the morning and pick up a tennis racket?

“I have an amazing team, really, with me,” replied the three-time Grand Slam finalist.

“Karim (Kamoun), my husband, my fitness coach, Issam (Jellali), my coach. Now I have my mental coach, Melanie (Maillard), with me. I feel like the discussion around it, everything around it, setting up my goals with them, it’s very important.

And I know that I have an option, if I don’t want to go on court, I would not.

“Maybe before it was a bit difficult. But now I always try to find the motivation. I try to always laugh as well. That helps me a lot to be who I am and not be surrounded by losing or winning and all of that.

“I believe that tennis is always a happy place for me. If one day it’s not, then there is actually a problem. For now, I’m enjoying it, so it’s good.”

Jabeur has been working with her psychologist Maillard since 2017 and the Frenchwoman travels with her to a few tournaments every year.

Psychology is a subject Jabeur is particularly interested in, and she has boundless curiosity, not just to better understand herself, but others around her as well.

“That’s why I honestly have no hate for no player, because everybody is coming from a different background. Everybody has their own hurt. And I don’t know what they have been through.

“So I really try not to judge,” she added.

“Melanie helps me with the stress before the matches, anxiety, everything around. Understand the player that I am, understand my worth.

“Because I’ve seen so many successful human beings, not only tennis players, but there’s always that insecurities like, am I good enough? Am I going to make it, you know?

“And it’s fascinating that no matter how big the result is, we can doubt ourselves a lot.”


Swiatek survives Eala scare to start Madrid Open defense

Updated 24 April 2025
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Swiatek survives Eala scare to start Madrid Open defense

  • “It wasn’t easy to get into the rhythm and the right timing and I’m happy that I was just patient,” Swiatek said
  • “I always love playing here”

MADRID: Defending Madrid Open champion Iga Swiatek survived a debut scare to beat rising teenage star Alexandra Eala 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday and reach the third round in the Spanish capital.
The 19-year-old Filipino, who beat Swiatek in straight sets on a shock run to the Miami Open semifinals in March, claimed the first set as the world number two struggled.
Swiatek, who has been below her best so far this season, found her rhythm in the second set and eventually downed Eala, ranked 72nd, with ease in the third.
“It wasn’t easy to get into the rhythm and the right timing and I’m happy that I was just patient,” Swiatek told Spanish broadcaster TVE.
“I always love playing here, for sure I’m proud of my performances in the last two years.”
Eala broke Swiatek in the first game and produced two battling holds on her first two service games, saving two break points in each as the Pole hunted for a way back in.
The exciting Filipino saved another break point in the sixth game before breaking Swiatek to love for a 5-2 lead in the Madrid sun.
Clay court expert Swiatek recovered a break but Eala was able to serve out her advantage, capturing her third set point when the five-time Grand Slam champion sent a backhand long.
Swiatek only converted one of six first-set break points against the resilient Eala, who won both of hers.
The teenager again broke in the first game of the second set, but this time Swiatek, who has four French Open titles, was able to respond immediately.
When Eala broke again for a 3-2 lead, Swiatek followed suit to get back on serve, with the Pole raising her level toward the end of the second set.
She broke to love in the 10th game to force a deciding set and sped through it, securing breaks in the second and sixth games.
Eala wrestled a break back and saved a match point as Swiatek overcooked a backhand, but eventually the reigning champion triumphed as the teenager went long.
Swiatek will face Czech Linda Noskova in the third round.
In other matches, Anastasija Sevastova ousted 2017 French Open winner and Latvian compatriot Jelena Ostapenko 7-6 (7/2), 6-2. Ostapenko beat Swiatek in the Stuttgart quarter-finals last week.


Alcaraz blames ‘demanding sport’ for Madrid withdrawal but should be fit for French Open

Updated 24 April 2025
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Alcaraz blames ‘demanding sport’ for Madrid withdrawal but should be fit for French Open

  • The third-ranked Spaniard blamed his injuries on the “really tight” schedule
  • Alcaraz said he has not fully recovered from the upper leg ailment

MADRID: Home-crowd favorite Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the Madrid Open on Thursday because of muscle injuries, saying he didn’t want to risk making things worse before the French Open.
The third-ranked Spaniard blamed his injuries on the “really tight” schedule that is part of the “demanding sport” of tennis.
Alcaraz said he has not fully recovered from the upper leg ailment that bothered him during the Barcelona Open final last Sunday. He also said he has a left leg injury. His first appearance at the Caja Magica in Madrid was scheduled for Saturday.
Alcaraz is a two-time champion in Madrid, having won in 2022 and 2023. He was the second seed this week and in the same half of the draw as Novak Djokovic.
Alcaraz said he did “everything possible to play” but had to make the “tough decision” to withdraw after listening to his body and talking to doctors.
“Madrid is one of the special tournaments for me, it’s a tournament that I enjoy, I get to play in front of my fans, it’s one of the first tournaments I attended when I was a kid,” Alcaraz said. “These types of decisions are not easy to make but sometimes you have to think about your health and about what is important. A Grand Slam is a Grand Slam. If I play here, I could make the injuries worse and stop for several months and that’s not worth it.”
He said he felt “secure” about recovering in time to play next month at Roland Garros, where he is the defending champion. He won the Roland Garros final last year against Alexander Zverev, who has just leapfrogged the Spaniard to No. 2 in the world after winning in Munich last week.
“I’m not really worried about it,” Alcaraz said. “I believe it’s going to take one week, one week and a half, two weeks maximum, but I won’t have doubts about coming back and moving 100 percent again.”
He said he plans to play in Rome ahead of the French Open, which begins on May 25.
“My mindset is to do everything it takes to be a hundred percent for Rome. I will do some tests at the beginning of next week just to see how it’s improved, and from that let’s see how it’s going to be the next days,” he said. “My hope is to play in Rome. If not, next tournament is Roland Garros for me. So I will try to be on court as soon as possible.”
Alcaraz needed treatment on his leg during his straight-set loss to Holger Rune in the Barcelona final. He had not practiced in Madrid yet, and said this week that he felt “fine” but was waiting on medical test results to determine whether he would play.
Alcaraz, who will turn 22 on May 5, won in Monte Carlo to start his clay-court campaign and on a nine-match winning run until the Barcelona final. He said he later also felt pain in a muscle in his left leg.

Demanding sport
Alcaraz vowed to “come back stronger” but complained of the tennis schedule.
“Tennis is really a demanding sport,” he said. “Playing week after week, so many matches in a row, and you have to heal your body sometimes and take difficult decisions.”
The four-time Grand Slam champion has a 24-5 record this year. In addition to Monte Carlo, he also won in Rotterdam on hard court in February.
“The schedule is really tight, really difficult tournaments week after week, and sometimes you have to think about yourself sometimes, and make the right decisions as to your health.”


Moutet smashes racket in front of jeering crowd as injury ends Madrid run

Corentin Moutet reacts to his forehand in his match against Holger Rune of Denmark at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. (AFP)
Updated 24 April 2025
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Moutet smashes racket in front of jeering crowd as injury ends Madrid run

  • The 26-year-old later said on X that he had been struggling with a lingering back injury throughout the match.

DUBAI: Corentin Moutet was booed off the court after smashing his racket and retiring midway through the second set of his first-round match against fellow Frenchman Harold Mayot at the Madrid Open.
Trailing 3-6, 2-3 on Wednesday, Moutet smashed his racket in frustration after losing a point. He walked to his chair to get a new one but, after what seemed like an exchange of words with the jeering crowd, headed to the umpire to signal his retirement.
The 26-year-old later said on X that he had been struggling with a lingering back injury throughout the match.
“I went to do an MRI directly after my match I’m still waiting for the result,” Moutet wrote on X after the match. “I wanted to try today but I didn’t know that it would be that bad.”
“My back didn’t allow me to do much. I hope to be back soon on the court. All the best to my opponent for the rest of the tournament.”