DOHA: Celebrations erupted on the pitch and in the stands in Doha on Sunday when both Palestine and Syria made it through to the Arab Cup quarter-finals following a 0-0 draw.
For both sides, reaching the knockout stage in the regional tournament hosted by Qatar was magnified by the all-too recent memory of conflict in their homelands.
Only weeks ago in Gaza, the war sparked by Hamas’ attack on Israel came to a halt under a fragile ceasefire plan brokered by the United States.
For the Syrian side, the game came on the eve of the anniversary of the ousting of Bashar Assad, who unleashed years of war with his crackdown on pro-democracy protests.
Both nations knew a draw in their final Group A match would secure Palestine top spot with Syria progressing in second place.
Even ahead of the final whistle, around 40,000 fans packing the Education City Stadium began dancing and chanting to celebrate the two sides’ entry into the last eight.
And at the end of the game, players on the pitch swapped jerseys and posed for photographs together, as the squads’ coaches embraced each other.
“We are very happy to top the group, which included two great teams like Qatar and Tunisia, and we congratulate all Palestinian fans,” said Palestine striker Oday Dabbagh.
“We played to win, especially after learning about Tunisia’s lead over Qatar, but we lacked the final touch in front of the goal... The most important thing is that we qualified.”
Palestine coach Ehab Abu Jazar paid tribute to his mother, who along with his brother and other loved ones had to flee her home and now lives in a tent in Gaza.
“She has a lot of experience with sports, and she told me to play carefully,” he told AFP.
Syrian striker Mahmoud Al-Mawas said the result “means a lot to Syrians because it coincides with the Liberation Day celebrations...
“Now, all our focus will be on the quarter-final.”
At a cafe in the Syrian capital, Damascus, 30-year-old Wafa Durri watched the game, with her country’s flag adorning her right cheek.
“I had never supported the national team, but after the liberation everything changed, and now I support it with all my heart,” she said.
Palestine, Syria celebrate reaching Arab Cup quarter-finals
https://arab.news/mc25n
Palestine, Syria celebrate reaching Arab Cup quarter-finals
- Both nations knew a draw in their final Group A match would secure Palestine top spot with Syria progressing in second place
Tsitsipas, Auger-Aliassime, Medvedev, Rublev lead star-studded Dubai ATP 500 lineup
DUBAI: The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships will again welcome a world-class men’s line-up in 2026, with defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas joined by Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev for the ATP 500 from Feb. 23–28.
Tsitsipas will aim to defend the title he claimed last year when he capped a dominant week with victory over Auger-Aliassime. The triumph was a highlight of the Greek star’s season, underlining his ability on hard courts.
Auger-Aliassime, currently ranked world No. 7, arrives in Dubai following one of the most successful campaigns of his career. The Canadian lifted three ATP Tour titles in 2025 — Adelaide, Montpellier and Brussels — and reached the semifinals of the US Open, adding to his credentials as a leading contender after last year’s runner-up finish in Dubai.
Former champions Medvedev and Rublev join the field. Medvedev, the 2023 Dubai winner and 2021 US Open champion, remains one of the most formidable hard-court players on tour, with his tactical discipline and experience proving well suited to conditions in the UAE. Rublev, champion in 2022, returns after another consistent season, bringing his trademark intensity and powerful baseline game back to a venue where he has enjoyed notable success.
The 2026 line-up is further strengthened by world No. 10 Alexander Bublik, the 2024 Dubai finalist known for his flair and unpredictability, and British No. 1 Jack Draper, ranked world No. 11, who continued his rise with a breakthrough Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells last season. Also confirmed is world No. 17 Karen Khachanov, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist, who enjoyed a strong 2025 and a runner-up finish at the National Bank Open in Toronto.
“We are thrilled with the strength and depth of the ATP 500 field confirmed for 2026,” said Ramesh Cidambi, managing director of Dubai Duty Free and chairman of the tournament’s organizing committee. “With Stefanos returning as defending champion, Felix coming off an exceptional season, and former champions like Daniil and Andrey in the mix, fans can expect outstanding tennis across both weeks.”
Tournament director Salah Tahlak said the event continued to be a benchmark on the men’s tour: “Year after year, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships showcase an exceptional standard of tennis. With this caliber of players already confirmed, we are confident the 2026 ATP 500 will deliver another memorable week for fans in Dubai and audiences worldwide.”
The championships will again be staged back-to-back, with the women’s WTA 1000 tournament taking place from Feb. 15–21 followed by the men’s ATP 500 event. The women’s draw is set to feature many of the sport’s biggest names, including defending champion Mirra Andreeva, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, six-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiątek and world No. 3 Coco Gauff.
Tickets for both tournaments are now on sale via both ticketmaster.ae and the official tournament website. Prices start from 65 UAE dirhams.
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is owned and organized by Dubai Duty Free and held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai.
