Seeds fall at Dubai Tennis Open as Sabalenka, Paolini and Pegula exit in Round of 16

Seeds fall at Dubai Tennis Open as Sabalenka, Paolini and Pegula exit in Round of 16
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka exited the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Wednesday after defeat to unseeded Clara Tauson of Denmark. (Supplied)
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Updated 20 February 2025
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Seeds fall at Dubai Tennis Open as Sabalenka, Paolini and Pegula exit in Round of 16

Seeds fall at Dubai Tennis Open as Sabalenka, Paolini and Pegula exit in Round of 16
  • Unseeded Clara Tauson shocks world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka while reigning champion Jasmine Paolini loses out to wildcard Sofia Kenin 
  • World No. 2 Iga Swiatek survives on day of surprises, but fifth-seed Jessica Pegula goes home early

DUBAI: Out of sorts and out of the tournament, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka exited the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Wednesday night after a 3-6, 2-6 defeat to unseeded Clara Tauson of Denmark.

The Belarusian was far from the only top seed to fall, with reigning champion Jasmine Paolini, World No. 5 Jessica Pegula, and World No. 9 Emma Navarro all crashing out to unseeded opponents.

Tauson, the world No. 38, claimed the biggest scalp though, with her emphatic win against three-time Grand Slam winner Sabalenka taking the 22-year-old to a WTA 1000 quarterfinal for the first time in her career. Sabalenka, in contrast, has now failed to reach the last eight in Dubai in six of her nine attempts.

Dominating the Belarusian for close to an hour and a half, Tauson served seven aces, broke her opponent’s serve six times, and resolutely held the lead from as early as the third game. The Dane’s victory came just a month after suffering a third-round loss to Sabalenka at the Australian Open.

“Last time I had my chances too, but didn’t take them,” Tauson said on Centre Court after taking her record against top 10 players to 2-8. “This time I felt really free and knew that she had to beat me; I was the underdog all the way, so I really enjoyed my time on court and I’m just really looking forward to my next one.”

Sabalenka congratulated her opponent, but was quick to lay blame squarely on herself. “(Clara) played great tennis, and I didn’t play my best,” said the three-time Grand Slam winner. “That’s it. She had a bit more preparation and was hungrier than me. Well done to her; not very well done to me.”

Sabalenka said she needs to rethink her approach to the Middle East swing — which features tournaments in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai — after a series of disappointments in recent years. A winner in Qatar in 2020, the 26-year-old followed it up with victory in Abu Dhabi the following year but lost her first games in Doha and Dubai last year and failed to show anything close to her best tennis at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium this week.

“I’d say that for the last couple of years, I’m not doing well in the Middle East,” she admitted. “I believe we need to change something in the preparation (because) even health-wise I’m struggling. Australia always takes a lot of energy out of me. I believe we just need to think with the team for the future how we can improve or get better in the preparation for the Middle East.”

Tauson will now face World No. 35 Linda Noskova in the quarterfinals after the 20-year-old Czech beat fifth seed Pegula in straights sets 6-3, 7-6 (8). The victory was Noskova’s eighth top 10 win and third top 5 win, and she did it the hard way, saving two set points in the second-set tiebreak to defeat her American opponent and advance to her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal.

The winner of that match will face either Karolina Muchova, who defeated American McCartney Kessler 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (5), or Romania’s Sorana Cirstea, who beat Navarro 7-6 (5), 3-6, 7-5.

On the other side of the draw, No. 4 seed Paolini lost to wildcard Sofia Kenin 6-4, 6-0 after breaking down in tears with an injury to her right ankle during the second set. The Italian — whose win here last year prompted a breakthrough season — called a medical timeout and had her ankle immobilised, but could not challenge Kenin, who now faces world No. 7 Elena Rybakina.

Rybakina saved six match points before closing out a dramatic 4-6, 7-6 (8), 7-6 (2) victory against No. 9 seed Paula Badosa. The Kazakh fought back from 6-3 down in a second-set tie-break, while Badosa also spurned two match points on Rybakina’s serve at 6-5 in the decider.

“Crazy match,” said Rybakina. “Really happy that I won it. I had a lot of chances before to finish the set or go more up in the score, but when it was already match points for her, I had nothing to lose so I was just playing point by point. Somehow (I) managed to make it even, then played better in the important points, especially on the tiebreak.”

The winner of Kenin-Rybakina will expect now to face World No. 2 Iga Swiatek, who immediately became the tournament favourite after Sabalenka’s elimination. The Pole — a five-time Grand Slam winner — overpowered Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska 7-5, 6-0 and will face 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva in the Elite Eight on Thursday.

Andreeva was forced to play two matches in a day after her second-round tie on Tuesday was cancelled because of rain. After beating 2022 finalist Marketa Vondrousova 7-5, 6-0 in the morning on Court Three, she took to Centre Court in the afternoon to face American Peyton Stearns. Stearns had also played earlier in the day, defeating World No. 8 Qinwen Zheng 6-1, 6-1.

“It was tough to play two matches in one day,” Andreeva said. “The rain decided that though, so we had no choice. I just tried to stay active after my first match and I’m really happy with my win.”

On the prospect of facing World No. 2 Swiatek, Andreeva added: “Of course, it’s going to be an entertaining match. It’s never easy to play against a top player. I’ve played against her once in Cincinnati, and I think that was a good match, considering that it was the first time I played against her. I already know what to expect from her and I think she knows what to expect from me. I hope that we can put on a great game and we’re going to see who will be stronger.”

The 25th edition of the annual WTA 1000 event runs until Feb. 22, before the 33rd staging of Dubai’s ATP Tour 500 tournament takes place from Feb. 24 to March 1.

 


Ben Sulayem committed to to transforming FIA into ‘modern, accessible and connected organization’

Ben Sulayem committed to to transforming FIA into ‘modern, accessible and connected organization’
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem: “Our Members are fundamental to the success of the FIA.” (Eric Alonso/DPPI)
Updated 04 May 2025
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Ben Sulayem committed to to transforming FIA into ‘modern, accessible and connected organization’

Ben Sulayem committed to to transforming FIA into ‘modern, accessible and connected organization’
  • Leading figures in racing assemble in Marrakech as FIA president continues mission to double motorsport participation

DUBAI:  The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, the global governing body for motorsport and the federation for mobility organizations worldwide, is set for a busy agenda of high-level discussions at its annual FIA Region I Spring Meeting starting in Marrakech on Tuesday.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem will be in attendance at the three-day assembly of mobility and motorsport leaders from across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to discuss key initiatives in road safety, sustainable mobility, regional sporting growth, and innovation in transport.

Speaking ahead of the conference, which is hosted by Mobilite Club Maroc, Ben Sulayem said: “As a global federation it is not often that we are able to unite our community in one place, so moments like this are particularly special.

“The next few days will provide an invaluable opportunity for engagement and participation, along with key votes to decide on the leadership of our community.”

The Region I Spring Meeting will coincide with a series of sessions designed to equip member clubs with new strategies and insights into evolving mobility and sporting trends. The event will be an opportunity to share knowledge and best practice across topics such as service delivery, sustainable responsibility, and consumer-focused innovation.

Ben Sulayem said: “Our members are fundamental to the success of the FIA, and I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made together during my first term in office and the successes we have achieved. We continue to strengthen the link between sport and mobility, expanding our reach and impact on the global stage.

“I am committed to the transformation of the FIA into a modern, accessible, and connected organization. Globally we are continuing our mission to double motorsport participation through grassroot initiatives and accessibility programs such as Affordable Cross Car and the Global Karting Plan, while ensuring ongoing empowerment of all regions across our mobility capabilities.”

The FIA Member Club structure forms the backbone of the federation’s governance and operations, with each full member club holding voting rights across the FIA’s elections and regulatory decisions. Clubs are grouped into two primary categories, with some serving in both roles.

Mobility clubs provide mobility services and represent the interest of road users, with a focus on road safety, travel and tourism, consumer rights, and sustainable mobility.

National sporting authorities govern and develop motorsport at a national level, are responsible for sporting events, issuing licenses, and engagement across regulations.

Within the FIA there are four mobility regions and six sport zones. FIA Region I is comprised of 101 mobility member clubs from across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, representing over 41 million members.


Saudi professional esports team Falcons Vega wins UK women’s tournament Red Bull Instalock

Saudi professional esports team Falcons Vega wins UK women’s tournament Red Bull Instalock
Updated 04 May 2025
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Saudi professional esports team Falcons Vega wins UK women’s tournament Red Bull Instalock

Saudi professional esports team Falcons Vega wins UK women’s tournament Red Bull Instalock
  • The invitational tournament ran from May 2-3 at the UK’s premier esports and gaming venue, the Red Bull Gaming Sphere in London
  • Red Bull Instalock brought together some of the best women’s VALORANT teams from around the world, including G2 Gozen, GIANTX GC, Falcons Vega, and FlyQuest RED

LONDON: Falcons Vega have been crowned this year’s Red Bull Instalock champions, securing the victory following a weekend of top-level competition from London’s premier gaming and esports venue, the Red Bull Gaming Sphere. The event marked the UK’s first professional women’s esports tournament of 2025.

Returning for a second straight year, Red Bull Instalock brought together four of the world’s elite women’s VALORANT teams for two days of competition. Returning to the lineup were last year’s champions G2 Gozen from Germany and London locals GIANTX GC. Joining them as Red Bull Instalock newcomers were Falcons Vega from Saudi Arabia and FlyQuest RED representing America.

The tournament saw the return of its unique format, transforming the traditional team structure to require three duelists, VALORANT’s offensive class, in order to encourage aggressive plays and quick thinking.

The tournament kicked off Friday with intense best-of-three matchups between Falcons Vega and GiantX GC, and between G2 Gozen and FlyQuest RED. Following intense back-and-forth battles on the map, Falcons Vega and G2 Gozen both secured 2-1 wins in their matches, progressing to the Upper Bracket Final later in the day. Inaugural Red Bull Instalock champions G2 Gozen continued their winning streak, knocking Falcons Vega down to the lower bracket in a clean 2-0 sweep and securing the first available spot for the Grand Final.

In the lower bracket, FlyQuest RED knocked out GiantX GC in a 2-0 win, before being pitted against Falcons Vega. With both teams eager to prove their worth and secure the remaining spot in the Grand Final, Falcons Vega swiftly earned their place with a 2-0 win that propelled them into the final showdown.

The Grand Final pivoted to a best-of-five, raising the stakes and pushing both teams to the limit in an intense back-and-forth showdown that went across five maps. Falcons Vega swiftly took the first map against G2 Gozen, grinding the latter team’s momentum to a halt. Determined not to go down without a fight, G2 Gozen brought it back with a 19-17 win on map two following the longest overtime in the tournament’s history, and another win on the third map, before Falcons Vega closed the gap on map four. With teams tied, stakes were higher than ever going into map five, and Falcons Vega eventually triumphed 13-8 following an incredible final performance, dethroning G2 Gozen and claiming the title of Red Bull Instalock Champions.

Falcons Vega pro and Red Bull player Maryam “Mary” Maher said: “It means so much to have won Red Bull Instalock. This team is made of the most hardworking women I know, and I’m proud of the work we put in. We’re so happy to be representing the Middle East and want to be role models for women gamers in the region.”

Red Bull Instalock host Yinsu Collins also commented: “This year’s Red Bull Instalock has been amazing. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that we crowned Falcons Vega as our winners, and it’s been really special to have some of the best players from MENA and SEA to compete under one roof in London. We had an incredible variety of international teams and players compete this year, which helped keep the action fresh, and it’s been great to see matchups between teams that don’t normally get to compete together.”


Fatal Fury: Alvarez undisputed champion in Riyadh, Crawford eyes it next

Canelo Alvarez claims undisputed status with unanimous decision win over William Scull. credit: @Turki_alalshikh
Canelo Alvarez claims undisputed status with unanimous decision win over William Scull. credit: @Turki_alalshikh
Updated 04 May 2025
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Fatal Fury: Alvarez undisputed champion in Riyadh, Crawford eyes it next

Canelo Alvarez claims undisputed status with unanimous decision win over William Scull. credit: @Turki_alalshikh
  • Unanimous decision win over William Scull on Saturday night

RIYADH: Canelo Alvarez once again cemented his place atop boxing’s super middleweight division, claiming undisputed status with a unanimous decision win over IBF title holder William Scull on Saturday night at the ANB Arena in Riyadh. It was a tactical affair rather than a thriller, but enough to remind the world who still rules at 168 pounds.

Canelo told Arab News before the fight that he would humble Scull, adding: “He’s very confident but he’s going to feel something different on Saturday.” The latter felt the Mexican king’s words.

Turki Alalshikh delivered the night’s biggest fireworks after the final bell, orchestrating a dramatic in-ring face-off between Canelo and Terence Crawford to announce plans for a Sept. 12 mega-fight. The undefeated Crawford, one of Turki’s favored fighters, now appears next in line — a high-stakes bout that has boxing buzzing.

A Canelo and Crawford showdown is a classic pressure versus precision matchup — Canelo’s methodical stalking and body punching against Crawford’s switch-hitting, movement, and counters. If Crawford can control distance and disrupt Canelo’s rhythm, he can box his way to a decision. But if Canelo cuts the ring, lands to the body, and imposes his physicality, he could break Crawford down — or at least bank enough rounds up close.

Elsewhere on the card, Badou Jack retained his WBC cruiserweight title in a majority decision that left many scratching their heads. Most observers believed Noel Mikaelian had done more than enough to win, but the judges saw it otherwise, handing Jack one of the night’s more contentious victories.

Super middleweight contender Jaime Munguia picked up a solid, if unremarkable, win in his rematch with Bruno Surace, while heavyweights Efe Ajagba and Martin Bakole battled to a hard-fought draw that could easily set up a rematch. Both fighters absorbed plenty in a gritty back-and-forth contest.

Bakole was amazed to see how popular he was among Saudi fans who shouted his name throughout the fight. “I stole the show — everyone loves me (here),” he said, adding that he was aiming for a rematch to settle the score.

The undercard delivered glimpses of the future. Cuban light heavyweight prospect Brayan Leon stayed unbeaten with a dominant win, despite some defensive lapses, while 2024 Olympian Marco Verde made a thunderous pro debut with a first-round stoppage.

Richard Riakporhe made a successful entrance into the heavyweight ranks with a stoppage win over Kevin Nicolas Espindola.

Fighting for the first time since his cruiserweight title loss to Chris Billam-Smith last June, the 35-year-old Londoner returned to the ring carrying a bulked-up frame at 235 pounds. The added size signaled his intentions to create a new chapter in boxing’s glamor division.

“I want to get a heavyweight title. I’ve grown now, I’ve built myself up, I’m more healthy," Riakporhe said, expressing a desire to chase that ambition under the lights of a familiar setting. “This is where I want to do my fighting now,” he added, referring to Saudi Arabia.

The Kingdom’s own Mohammed Alakel remained undefeated, winning a shutout decision and continuing his climb in the opening bout on the Fatal Fury City of Wolves card.

He told Arab News in a post-fight interview that he was ready to “happily” take on any name next, anywhere in the world, adding: “I just want to get the experience and (become) the first Saudi champion.”

It was a night billed around one man, but the supporting cast — for better or worse — gave fans plenty to talk about. From disputed decisions to promising debuts, Riyadh delivered the full spectrum of boxing’s beauty and blemishes.


Baniyas lead in third round of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Baniyas lead in third round of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
The third round of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship concludes on Sunday in Abu Dhabi (UAEJJF)
Updated 04 May 2025
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Baniyas lead in third round of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Baniyas lead in third round of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
  • Al-Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club are in second place, Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club in third

Abu Dhabi, May 3: Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club continued to lead the third round of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship on Saturday after competitions in the U-14 and U-16 categories took place at the Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Al-Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club are in second place, while Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club are in third.

Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “The Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship represents a key pillar in our strategy to develop the sport, especially by focusing on younger age groups, who are the foundation of long-term sporting excellence. The championship’s ranking system offers strong motivation for clubs and academies to enhance player development and achieve strong results — factors that will elevate the level of competition and expand the athlete base across the country.”

Meanwhile, Mohammed Haitham, youth team coach at Al-Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club, said: “We prepared intensively for this round, both physically and mentally, knowing how important it is in the overall championship. The team delivered a strong and disciplined performance, executing the technical plans effectively, which boosts our chances in the final rankings.”

The final day of the third round takes place on Sunday with the U-12 categories.


Mahindra Racing secures season-best result in Monaco E-Prix as Rowland takes first place

Mahindra Racing secures season-best result in Monaco E-Prix as Rowland takes first place
Updated 03 May 2025
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Mahindra Racing secures season-best result in Monaco E-Prix as Rowland takes first place

Mahindra Racing secures season-best result in Monaco E-Prix as Rowland takes first place
  • The team had arrived in Monaco on the back of nine consecutive points finishes

MONACO: Mahindra Racing recorded its strongest result of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season to date with a second-place finish in the opening Monaco E-Prix on Saturday.

Nyck de Vries secured a runner-up finish in the Principality behind eventual winner Oliver Roland of Nissan, while team-mate Edoardo Mortara crossed the line in fourth, moving Mahindra up to third in both the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ standings.

Jake Dennis scored the third and final podium sport for Andretti.

The team had arrived in Monaco on the back of nine consecutive points finishes and a perfect Duels qualification record so far in Season 11 with its M11Electro car.

That consistency continued in qualifying, where de Vries advanced to the Semi-Finals and secured fourth on the grid. Mortara qualified ninth, giving Mahindra two cars in the top 10.

De Vries made a strong start, moving into third at the first corner before managing his race through two full-course yellow periods, a mandatory PIT BOOST stop – which requires a 34-second stationary recharge – and two Attack Mode activations. He moved into second in the closing stages and held position to the flag despite late pressure from behind.

“I’m very happy to be on the podium today, especially in front of my family and friends here in Monaco,” said de Vries. “The car was excellent, and we executed a very strong race strategically, so the whole team deserve a lot of credit for the work that we’ve done.

“Tomorrow is another day, and another race, but we’ll enjoy this result, and it’s great to have some confirmation of the progress we’re continuing to make, and a reward for the work we’ve done so far. We know the next steps will be harder, but this is encouraging.”

Mortara also moved forward through the race despite running with minor front wing damage following contact from another car. He climbed from ninth on the grid to fifth by managing his energy and using the PIT BOOST period to gain track position. He passed Nico Mueller on the final lap to take fourth.

“It’s a strong result for the team, and I was very happy to come through the field and score some good points today,” said Mortara. “Even with some minor damage, we were able to make progress and fight towards the front, which is very encouraging and another sign we are on the right path with our development of this new package.

“It’s a great start to the weekend, and hopefully we can have another positive result tomorrow.”

Team Principal and CEO Frederic Bertrand praised the team’s performance and execution, particularly under the new PIT BOOST format that was introduced this season.

“These are the days we’ve been working towards as a team, and it’s important to enjoy them whilst also being hungry for more,” said Bertrand.

“Today was a great example of what we have been building. We’ve extended our run of qualifying for the Duels and scoring points in every race this season, and I was particularly pleased to see not only how Nyck was able to fight at the front, but how Edo moved through the pack despite some small damage.

“PIT BOOST races are still a bit of an unknown for the whole paddock, but our engineers and mechanics executed a great strategy, and we were able to use it to our advantage again, as we did in Jeddah.

“Overall, a very pleasing result. It’s always nice to end the day with a trophy, but our focus remains to keep up this level of performance consistently and keep being ambitious and aim for even higher.”

Mahindra will return to action on Sunday for the second Monaco E-Prix of the weekend.