Women’s Tennis Association celebrates 50th anniversary at Dubai championship
The tournament takes place at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium until Feb. 25
Updated 20 February 2023
Arab News
DUBAI: The Women’s Tennis Association, the principle organizing body of women’s professional tennis, has joined hands with the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships to mark its 50th anniversary.
WTA players, coaches and officials teamed up with championships representatives and tournament staff to form a human “50” on Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium’s center court at this year’s event, which runs until Feb. 25 and features 17 of the world’s top-20 female players.
Canadian ace Leylah Annie Fernandez, the World No. 39, was one of the players to take part in the landmark celebration.
“Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the WTA here in Dubai means a lot to me,” she said. “I am super honored and proud to be a part of the WTA and to hopefully inspire young women to achieve their dreams. I think the WTA has been doing a great job in the past few years. It has a long way to go, but we are on the right track.”
Salah Tahlak, joint COO and tournament director of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, said: “The WTA commemorating its 50th anniversary here in Dubai is quite amazing. The organization is a role model for other sporting bodies to follow in improving the sporting landscape for women around the world and promoting equality and inclusion for all.”
The WTA was established on June 21, 1973, on the eve of Wimbledon Championships, with the goal of promoting fairness and equality in women’s sports. The organization governs the WTA Tour, the worldwide professional tennis tour for women. Today, the WTA has more than 2,500 players from 100 countries with more than 50 tournaments held annually across six continents.
Favorable draw leaves Saudi clubs in good shape ahead of AFC Champions League Elite quarterfinals
Al-Hilal are set to take on South Korea’s Gwangju FC, with Al-Ahli facing Buriram United of Thailand and Al-Nassr up against Yokohama F. Marinos
Updated 17 March 2025
John Duerden
LONDON: The question for much of the AFC Champions League Elite tournament so far has been based around if anyone can stop the three Saudi Pro League teams.
After the draw was made for the quarterfinals in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli now know the identity of their opponent but the same question still remains. It would not be a surprise at all if the same trio make it to the last four, where they will inevitably start to play each other.
Indeed, it could be that the only teams who can prevent the Saudi Arabians are other SPL rivals especially as all the matches from April 25, when the next round kicks off, to the May 4 final, will all be single games in the city of Jeddah. Even if the clashes had been two-legged, the trio would be favorites, but one-off games at home is obviously a major advantage.
Al-Hilal, with a record four titles in the trophy cabinet back in Riyadh, will start it all off against Gwangju FC. South Korean teams can never be underestimated, K-League clubs having won 12 Asian championships (Japan are next with eight, two more than Saudi Arabia). However, Gwangju have not only never reached this stage before, but this is their first appearance in the tournament.
From the southwest of the East Asian country, near the more experienced two-time champions Jeonbuk Motors, Gwangju had their best-ever season last year and started well in the group stage, eventually qualifying comfortably. The Korean media summed it up with the headline on Monday: “Gwangju face a mountain to climb in Saudi Arabia.” With little Asian experience, and indifferent results at home, few will be expecting them to cause an upset.
Though with dangerous Albanian international Jasir Asani, top scorer with nine goals so far, and a tough spirit — they came back from two goals down in the second round clash to beat Japan’s Vissel Kobe – Hilal will need to be own their guard, especially after their scare in the last round when they lost the first leg in Pakhtakor before roaring back in the second.
If the Riyadh giants get past their inexperienced opponents, then there could be a semifinal against Al-Ahli. The Jeddah team are going well and will also benefit from huge support at home. Buriram United of Thailand have plenty of Asian experience but have only been to the last eight once, back in 2013. Again, Al-Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle will say, and rightly so, that any team who makes it this far in Asia is an opponent to be respected and taken very seriously, but it would be a major shock if the team from the northeast of Bangkok could get a result by the Red Sea.
Al-Ahli have been in pretty good form at home but a couple of poor results mean that the Champions League is their best chance of a trophy this season. In Asia, they have been really flying and strolled past Al-Rayyan 5-1 on aggregate. They should really have too much for their Thai opposition at home, with Riyad Mahrez and Ivan Toney two standouts in Asia and Roberto Firmino also able to play.
If there is an all-Saudi semifinal, and if Al-Nassr can get past Yokohama F.Marinos, then the prospect of an all-Saudi final remains a possibility. Like Al-Ahli, the Riyadh club have never won the title before and the Champions League remains their best chance of major silverware this year.
Once again, the home team will be favorites but perhaps this is not as clear cut as in the other two ties. Yokohama topped the group in the eastern zone, winning six of their games, and got past Shanghai Port in the last round with ease in the end, after losing the first leg. Japanese teams are currently the best on the other side of the continent by some distance but the Kanagawa club are, however, struggling at home.
If Cristiano Ronaldo and his colleagues had to make the long journey to just outside of Tokyo for a first or second leg, it would look to be a tricky task, but in a one-off match on home soil, the expectations will all be on Al-Nassr and the biggest task may be handling the added pressure now that the SPL title is surely out of sight.
The winner of Al-Nassr vs. Yokohama will meet the winner of Qatar’s Al-Sadd and Kawasaki Frontale of Japan. At this stage, however, the money is all on the Saudi Arabians.
McLaren has ominous pace, Lewis Hamilton has work to do: 5 takeaways from F1’s season-opener
Among the takeaways ahead of Sunday’s race in Shanghai are that McLaren is the team to beat and that Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari have a lot of work to do
Lando Norris heads to the second round of the Formula 1 season in China with a lead over champion Max Verstappen after winning a thrilling race in Australia
Updated 17 March 2025
AP
Lando Norris heads to the second round of the Formula 1 season in China with a lead over champion Max Verstappen after winning a thrilling race in Australia.
Ahead of Sunday’s race in Shanghai, here are five takeaways from the season-opening Australian Grand Prix:
McLaren is the team to beat
Without the rain and the safety car, the Australian Grand Prix might not have been much of a contest. The two McLarens of Norris and Oscar Piastri quickly built a lead of more than 15 seconds to Verstappen in third early in the race. The McLarens were also three-tenths of a second faster than anyone else in qualifying. So much for preseason predictions that this year could be exceptionally close between multiple teams.
Norris acknowledged McLaren are favorites but warned the team shouldn’t get complacent. “If you start thinking things are good and groovy, that’s when you get caught,” he said. “We will have races where we struggle.”
Hamilton and Ferrari have work to do
Lewis Hamilton briefly led on his Ferrari debut. Unfortunately for the seven-time champion, a strategy blunder meant Ferrari left Hamilton and his new teammate Charles Leclerc on dry tires in increasingly heavy rain. “Missed a big opportunity,” Hamilton told Ferrari over the radio. Hamilton finished 10th, two places behind Leclerc.
Hamilton and Ferrari may need to work on their communication. After more than a decade working with Peter “Bono” Bonnington at Mercedes, Hamilton was frustrated at regular radio updates from his new engineer Riccardo Adami. “Leave me to it, please,” he said repeatedly.
Lawson’s old teammate may be his closest rival
No one expected Liam Lawson, in his 12th career F1 race, to beat his four-time champion teammate Verstappen. However, Lawson also underperformed compared to Yuki Tsunoda, his old teammate, after being picked over Tsunoda for the Red Bull seat. Lawson qualified 18th and made little progress before crashing out. Tsunoda qualified fifth and was competitive, though a team strategy error meant he finished 12th. If Lawson doesn’t improve, Red Bull could face even more scrutiny of its decision to pick him.
Antonelli is the standout rookie
Formula 1’s biggest rookie class in years struggled — with one big exception. The 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli became the second-youngest driver ever to score F1 points, behind only Verstappen, as he finished fourth with a strong drive from 16th.
Of the other drivers starting their first full F1 seasons, Lawson, Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Alpine’s Jack Doohan crashed out, Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar crashed before the start and Haas’ Oliver Bearman was the last finisher in 14th.
Teamwork helps Williams make its mark
Alex Albon benefited from his new teammate as he finished fifth for Williams’ best result since 2021. Carlos Sainz, Jr. crashed out early but joined the team staff on the pit wall to offer Albon advice over the radio on how best to handle the rapidly changing weather. “We’re a very bonded team,” Albon said.
Horse racing is in UAE’s DNA, says Dubai Racing Club CEO
Ali Al-Ali spoke to Arab News about the emirate’s emergence as a regional and global racing hub and the upcoming Dubai World Cup
Updated 17 March 2025
Ali Khaled
DUBAI: With less than three weeks left before the Dubai World Cup, Ali Al-Ali can look back with more than a measure of satisfaction on another successful racing season calendar at Meydan.
On Saturday, April 5, the racing world’s attention will again turn to the emirate as the globe’s best horses, jockeys and trainers take part in the 29th edition of the thoroughbred race. However, for the CEO of Dubai Racing Club, as well as many racing enthusiasts, the Dubai Racing Carnival has been up and running since November and concluded its last pre-World Cup event on Friday.
“The Carnival was restructured last year, season 2023-2024, and this is the second iteration of it,” said Al-Ali. “We have had a lot of feedback from both the racing side and the guest side, great feedback coming from both of those, talking about how the Carnival has created a whole new experience for the people that are coming to the course and enjoying a time out on a Friday night, as well as creating a very competitive atmosphere for international horses coming from all over the world.”
One of the highlights of the calendar took place on Saturday, March 1, and for some of the participants provided a path to the main card of the Dubai World Cup.
Ali Al Ali, CEO of Dubai Racing Club. (Supplied)
“Emirates Super Saturday has always been a great night,” said Al-Ali. “It’s a mini rehearsal for the Dubai World Cup. It was the first time that Emirates Super Saturday falls under Ramadan, and I think we created a beautiful mix of Ramadan vibes, culture, horse racing, hospitality and entertainment on that night.”
The Dubai Racing Club was established in 1992, and the Dubai World Cup had its first run four years later. From its origins at Nad Al-Sheba Racecourse to its current home of Meydan, it has become one of the world’s most famous racing events, featuring a total prize of $30.5 million for nine races, of which $12 million is set aside for the showpiece race.
“Well, horse racing has always been in the DNA of Dubai and the UAE as well,” said Al-Ali. “The vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum was to bring the horses back to their original home.
“From there began the mission of His Highness to create a hub and to create a racing environment that suits everyone coming into the region,” he added. “And (he also wanted) to prove that these horses entering here in Dubai do always have a better chance of winning outside as well. Going back to how it has evolved, I believe with His Highness’ directions and continuous support, we are at a pinnacle at the moment and we’re only pushing forward.”
Having the right facilities and talent is what helped Dubai become a regional and global racing hub, according to Al-Ali.
“I see Dubai as a great hub due to the infrastructure, and most importantly, the know-how of flying in international horses and providing them with the right atmosphere, the right facilities, the right supplies, the right support to race in a very safe and enjoyable racecourse.”
The 2025 Dubai World Cup will take place only days after Eid Al-Fitr, but Al-Ali says that preparations have been going on for some time now.
“We’ve been preparing since almost a year now. That’s how we do it and that’s always what we try to achieve. We always try to achieve absolute excellence when it comes to the Dubai World Cup,” he said.
The CEO says that technology is increasingly playing a major part in maintaining that excellence.
“From a technological perspective, we see that the Dubai Racing Club is going to be one of the pioneering jurisdictions in implementing both artificial intelligence within our operations, as well as enhancing the technology that is helping and aiding horse racing around the region.”
Al-Ali is now looking forward to the start of this year’s festivities on April 1.
“The Dubai World Cup Week is full of activities and entertainment, and we’ve got the Post-Position Draw, the Post-Position Gala, the Dubai World Cup Gala, and the breakfast of the stars as well, which is now called the Morning Gallop.”
Horses and trainers are already making the move to Dubai ahead of the big week.
“We have received some of the horses that are going to be running on the Dubai World Cup night and we’re expecting more of them to come throughout these weeks,” Al-Ali said.
Al-Wasl host Al-Jazira as mouthwatering ADIB Cup semifinals kick off
On Tuesday Sharjah take on runaway top-flight leaders Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai Club, with the second legs on March 22 and 23
Updated 17 March 2025
Matt Monaghan
DUBAI: A quartet of UAE heavyweights are set to lock horns during the international break as the ADIB Cup’s mouth-watering semifinals kick off on Monday night.
Ex-France star Nabil Fekir’s Al-Jazira travel to troubled reigning ADNOC Pro League and President’s Cup holders Al-Wasl in tonight’s opening first leg.
And a re-run of this month’s AFC Champions League Two quarterfinals begins on Tuesday when Sharjah — who prevailed on penalties at continental level — host runaway top-flight leaders Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai Club.
The finalists will be decided in the second legs on March 22 and 23.
Monday’s meeting at Zabeel Stadium pits an in-form Jazira against opponents reeling from a continental elimination which has compounded their underwhelming 2024-2025 season.
Al-Wasl ended a 17-year domestic trophy drought in style last term. But they currently sit 20 points off the leading pace in sixth.
And they lost 4-2 on aggregate to Qatar Stars League holders Al-Sadd during the AFC CL Elite’s round of 16.
An opportunity to salvage something from this season will be sorely tested by a Jazira that have prevailed in four of their last five fixtures, across all competitions.
In the other tie, a remarkable run of fixtures continues with the third and fourth meetings of five-successive clashes between Sharjah and Shabab Al-Ahli.
Narrow continental progress for the former has tantalizingly set the scene for the ADIB Cup’s last four, with March 28’s league restart to follow.
With both clubs competing vigorously across multiple fronts, intense competition awaits at Sharjah Stadium on Tuesday in the absence of many international representatives.
Oklahoma City Thunder continued their serene march toward the Western Conference No.1 seeding with an emphatic 121-105 road victory over the Milwaukee Bucks
In Los Angeles, the Lakers snapped a four-game losing streak and dealt a blow to the Phoenix Suns’ hopes of reaching the playoffs after powering to a 107-96 victory
Updated 17 March 2025
AFP
LOS ANGELES: Paolo Banchero scored 24 points as the Orlando Magic overturned a 13-point deficit to end the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 16-game NBA unbeaten streak with a gutsy 108-103 road victory on Sunday.
Cleveland, the runaway Eastern Conference leaders, had looked poised to extend their franchise-record winning run after surging clear of Orlando early in the third quarter.
But after a season where they have staged hefty winning comebacks of their own, the tables turned on Cleveland in the face of a furious burst of Orlando scoring.
The Magic outscored Cleveland 35-23 in the third quarter with Franz Wagner leading the charge with nine points and Banchero adding seven.
Although Cleveland led by a slender 83-82 margin heading into the fourth quarter, and threatened to stretch away once more after Donovan Mitchell’s driving layup made it 91-84, Orlando refused to roll over.
Eight more points from Wagner in the final frame and five apiece from Banchero and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope saw the Magic home to silence a 19,432 sellout crowd at Cleveland’s Rocket Arena.
Former No. 1 NBA Draft pick Banchero finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists while Wagner added 22 points with eight rebounds and two assists as Orlando improved to 32-37 to remain eighth in the Eastern Conference standings.
“It’s a big win,” Banchero said after what was the final leg of a five-game road trip for Orlando. “We knew this was going to be probably the toughest game of the trip.
“To come in here... against one of the better teams in the league, also on a win streak — big win.”
Mitchell led the Cleveland scoring with 23 points, with Jarrett Allen finishing on 20 and Darius Garland adding 19.
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson praised Orlando’s performance and said it demonstrated the depth of quality in the league.
“Huge credit to them,” Atkinson said. “This league is humbling, and if you think you’ve won 16 in a row or whatever, right around the corner is a playoff team and a tough team to play.”
The Oklahoma City Thunder continued their serene march toward the Western Conference No.1 seeding with an emphatic 121-105 road victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
NBA Most Valuable Player contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder scoring with 31 points as Oklahoma City improved to 56-12, a massive 13 games clear of the second-placed Houston Rockets.
In Los Angeles, the Lakers snapped a four-game losing streak and dealt a blow to the Phoenix Suns’ hopes of reaching the playoffs after powering to a 107-96 victory.
Phoenix, sitting 11th in the Western Conference and just outside the play-in places, badly need wins as they attempt to force their way into the post-season reckoning.
But 33 points from Luka Doncic and another assured performance from Austin Reaves, who scored 28 points, carried the Lakers to a comfortable victory that left the Suns on 31-37 in the Western Conference standings.
In other games the Philadelphia 76ers scored an upset 130-125 win over the Dallas Mavericks on the road.
Quentin Grimes led the scoring for a depleted Sixers lineup missing Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr., finishing with 28 points.
