‘We’re delighted the world’s best players are here,’ says Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open tournament director

‘We’re delighted the world’s best players are here,’ says Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open tournament director
Defending champion Elena Rybakina is among a strong field at the 2025 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open. (MoS)
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Updated 31 January 2025
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‘We’re delighted the world’s best players are here,’ says Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open tournament director

‘We’re delighted the world’s best players are here,’ says Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open tournament director
  • Nigel Gupta spoke to Arab News about the competition’s evolution, the strong field in this year’s event and the growth of tennis in the Middle East

ABU DHABI: The third edition of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open begins on Saturday at Zayed Sports City. Arab News spoke to Tournament Director Nigel Gupta about this year’s event, the return of fan favorite Ons Jabeur and the growth of tennis in the region.

  • On the start of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open

“We are now only a few days away from the start of the tournament and, naturally, there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to ensure everything is ready for when the first fans walk through the gates.

“As you can imagine, with events of this size and magnitude, the preparations begin almost as soon as the previous year’s tournament ends. It’s a huge operation, but thankfully we have a fantastic team of dedicated staff who are working collectively to bring it all together.

“The event is now in its third year, and you obviously learn lessons from previous editions, which helps in terms of planning. The biggest difference for 2025 is the new-look Mubadala Tennis Village which, at 15,000 sq. meters, is double the size of previous years. It’s a massive area packed full of [activities and food and beverage] vendors, along with the main stage which is where the draw ceremony and live music performances will take place.”

 

  • On the strength of the line-up in Abu Dhabi

“It’s a very strong field and we are delighted many of the world’s best female players will be taking part in this year’s tournament.

“Elena Rybakina, the reigning champion, is returning to defend her crown, while Daria Kasatkina, who was last year’s beaten finalist, will also be back hoping to go one step further this time.

“Ons Jabeur, a big fan favorite in the region, continues her comeback after missing a large chunk of last season through injury and, as always, I’m sure she will receive fantastic support.

“We also have Belinda Bencic, who won the inaugural Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open in 2023, Paula Badosa, fresh from reaching the semifinals at the recent Australian Open, Marketa Vondrousova, winner of Wimbledon in 2023, and Beatriz Haddad Maia, who has reached the semifinal stage two years in a row.

“We have a great mix of experienced stars and young talented prospects, which include the US’s Ashlyn Krueger and Japan’s Wakana Sonobe, who only last weekend won the girls’ singles title at the Australian Open.

 

  • On fan favorite Ons Jabeur of Tunisia

“It’s obviously brilliant, given her profile in the Middle East, to have Ons involved, particularly as she missed a large part of last season through injury. She is hugely popular with the fans, which we saw at last year’s event, but more importantly she is a brilliant player who brings so much quality to the tournament.

“The event continues to grow, and we want the best players competing. Ons undoubtedly fits that bill and we’re looking forward to watching her in action.”

 

  • On Jabeur inspiring a generation of young Arab players

“Ons has a huge profile in this part of the world and it’s certainly something she takes very seriously. She has spoken about this previously and there is no doubt she sets a fantastic example through her professionalism, quality and all-round approach to the game.

“The popularity of tennis in the Middle East across all age groups is growing, which we have seen first-hand through our Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open Schools Program, where we go into schools in Abu Dhabi to educate youngsters about the sport in a fun and interactive way.

“Ons has played a huge part in this growth through both her performances on-court and the manner in which she conducts herself away from the game. What we want to see moving forward is the next generation of Arab stars following her lead, coming through and making an impact in the sport.”

 

  • On Emma Raducanu joining as a wild card

“We’re obviously delighted a player of Emma’s caliber and standing will be competing at the event. It’s fantastic for us to announce another Grand Slam winner, particularly coming so close to the start of the tournament.

“Emma is an exciting talent and it’s easy to forget she is still only 22. Naturally, winning the US Open at the age of 18 propelled her into the global media spotlight, which obviously brings its own challenges, but she is a fantastic player, and we are looking forward to watching her in action when she plays her first match on Saturday.

“She proved hugely popular with the fans last time, and I’m sure they will be thrilled she is returning, particularly [as] tickets for the opening two days of the tournament are completely free of charge. It’s not often you get the opportunity to watch a Grand Slam winner in action at no cost, so this really is something special.”

 

  • On the evolution of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open

“It’s been an upward trajectory since our maiden event in 2023, with the tournament growing in size and stature year on year.

The tournament continues to make a huge impact on the local community through initiatives such as the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open Schools Program, where assemblies are taking place across 50 schools in Abu Dhabi.

“We are also hosting assemblies in five universities, as well as staging Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open-themed roadshows at 10 locations in the capital. Our Chair Umpire Program, meanwhile, is a fantastic initiative for aspiring officials.

“Additionally, the Road to Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open is a community initiative developed by Mubadala in partnership with the UAE Tennis Federation, which provides a pathway for aspiring players across the UAE to elevate their game. Tournaments have been taking place in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah, with the finals held as part of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open. Among the prizes is an all-expenses-paid trip to train at the prestigious Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy in Spain, where Carlos Alcaraz honed his skills.”

 

  • On the growth of tennis in the Middle East

“The region is hosting more events than ever before, which is pivotal for the long-term development of the sport. The increased number of tournaments is obviously great for fans based here, who now have multiple opportunities to watch the biggest stars in action.

“For example, the week after the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open ends, there is the Qatar TotalEnergies Open, and then the Dubai Duty Free Championship begins. With further events taking place across the region over the course of the year, it’s a very exciting period.”


ATP, PIF launch upgrade to Tennis IQ platform

ATP, PIF launch upgrade to Tennis IQ platform
Updated 22 August 2025
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ATP, PIF launch upgrade to Tennis IQ platform

ATP, PIF launch upgrade to Tennis IQ platform
  • New version puts vital data in hands of more players, governing body says
  • System ‘embodies how innovation can empower athletes,’ PIF says

NEW YORK/RIYADH/LONDON: The ATP and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund on Friday launched an updated technology platform designed to give players unprecedented access to performance data and analytics.

ATP Tennis IQ Powered by PIF will be available to all singles players across the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time, extending access to as many as 2,000 players on both the ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour.

The system provides real-time scouting tools, video analysis and wearable insights aimed at helping players refine their preparation, strategy and match performance.

Ross Hutchins, chief sporting officer at the ATP, said the platform marked a major milestone for the sport.

“One of the things we’re most proud of … is putting high quality data insights into the hands of more players, enabling easy access to information that can genuinely impact their careers,” he said.

“We’ve also made big strides in the sophistication of the platform itself. Working with PIF has accelerated that progress — scaling faster, supporting more players and delivering one of the biggest technological step changes in the sport.”

Mohamed Al-Sayyad, head of corporate brand at PIF, said the project reflected the fund’s ambition to improve sport through innovation.

“PIF’s partnerships are designed to address critical needs and leave a legacy of transformative impact, built on a shared ambition to elevate every level of sport on a global scale,” he said.

“ATP Tennis IQ Powered by PIF embodies how innovation can empower athletes. PIF remains committed to driving partnerships in sport to catalyze innovation, expand opportunity and support the next generation of talent.”

The technology was first launched in 2023 in collaboration with Tennis Data Innovations and TennisViz.

The updated version broadens access to all ATP coach members as well as players and introduces an upgraded interface, enhanced scouting and video tools, and integration with wearables to capture physical performance data.

The ATP said these enhancements would place “richer data and analytics at players’ fingertips in real time” to help improve training techniques, refine strategy and make smarter in-match decisions.

The platform forms part of a wider strategic partnership between the ATP and PIF, which last year became the official naming partner of the ATP rankings.

PIF is also a partner of major ATP Tour events in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Beijing, as well as the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals in Turin and the Next Gen ATP Finals Presented by PIF, hosted in Jeddah until 2027.


Errani, Vavassori retain US Open mixed doubles title in revamped event

Errani, Vavassori retain US Open mixed doubles title in revamped event
Updated 22 August 2025
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Errani, Vavassori retain US Open mixed doubles title in revamped event

Errani, Vavassori retain US Open mixed doubles title in revamped event
  • The star names drew big crowds but the chemistry between Italians Errani and Vavassori, cultivated over a two-year on-court partnership that also saw them win the French Open title this year, proved decisive
  • Vavassori admitted he and Errani were on a “mission” to prove themselves against the singles stars

NEW YORK CITY : Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori retained their US Open mixed doubles title on Wednesday, beating Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud to claim the $1 million top prize in the new-look competition that kicked off action at the last Grand Slam of the year.

The Italians capped two days of intense work in the 16-team event with a 6-3, 5-7, 10-6 victory over Swiatek and Ruud — who were among a slew of singles stars drawn not only by the big purse but also by the chance to contest mixed doubles before singles action begins on Sunday.

Poland’s Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion ranked second in the world, battled through a two-hour tussle with Jasmine Paolini to win the Cincinnati Open on Monday then hot-footed it to New York to team up with Norway’s Ruud in the revamped competition.

Carlos Alcaraz, men’s champion in Cincinnati, also turned out but he and British playing partner Emma Raducanu were eliminated on Tuesday, as was superstar Novak Djokovic, who teamed with fellow Serb Olga Danilovic.

The star names drew big crowds but the chemistry between Italians Errani and Vavassori, cultivated over a two-year on-court partnership that also saw them win the French Open title this year, proved decisive.

Errani hoped it showed that committed doubles teams — many of whom were shut out of the field — have plenty to offer.

“I think this one is also for all the doubles players that couldn’t play this tournament,” Errani said as she and Vavassori accepted the trophy. “I think this one is also for them.”

Errani and Vavassori roared to a 4-1 lead in the opening set of the championship match and after Swiatek and Ruud regained one break, closed it on a confident hold from Vavassori.

Down a break at 4-5 in the second, Swiatek and Ruud won three straight games to force the 10-point match tiebreaker.

The Italians grabbed a 4-0 lead in the tiebreaker and held on.

“Congratulations,” Swiatek said at the trophy presentation. “You proved that, I guess, mixed doubles players are smarter tactically than singles players.

“But we pushed until the end. We tried to make it competitive.”

The first three rounds — including the semifinals on Wednesday night — were played with short sets with no-advantage scoring and a 10-point match tiebreak in lieu of a third set, before the final reverted to traditional sets with a 10-point match tiebreak.

Swiatek and Ruud had clawed their way past top seeds Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper with a 3-5, 5-3, 10-8 semifinal victory, winning the last six points to advance.

Errani and Vavassori romped past the American duo Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison 4-2, 4-2 to reach the final.

Vavassori admitted he and Errani were on a “mission” to prove themselves against the singles stars.

But both relished the electric atmosphere under the lights on the jam-packed Arthur Ashe Stadium Court.

“It’s the court where I feel goosebumps every time here,” Errani said.

Vavassori also enjoyed the “amazing atmosphere” and thanked organizers for putting mixed doubles in the spotlight.

“I have to say that we showed today that doubles is a great product,” he said. “I think it was amazing to play on this court with so many people and I have to say thanks from the bottom of my heart for the atmosphere.”

 


Sinner’s health comes into focus ahead of US Open

Sinner’s health comes into focus ahead of US Open
Updated 20 August 2025
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Sinner’s health comes into focus ahead of US Open

Sinner’s health comes into focus ahead of US Open
  • Tennis World USA reported that Sinner was battling a high fever and flu symptoms the night before and during his match with Alcaraz

LOS ANGELES: Top-ranked Jannik Sinner arrives at the US Open as the defending champion and a leading contender, though his withdrawal from the Cincinnati final on Monday due to illness adds a measure of uncertainty to his title defense.

The Italian looked off from the outset of his match against rival Carlos Alcaraz and, after quickly falling behind 5-0 in the first set, retired from the match, saying he “didn’t feel great” and apologizing to the disappointed fans in Ohio.

Tennis World USA reported that Sinner was battling a high fever and flu symptoms the night before and during his match with Alcaraz.

Sinner also mentioned the punishing heat and humidity during his match against Alcaraz, calling it “one of the hottest tournaments we played.” He then announced that he had withdrawn prior to his US Open mixed doubles match on Tuesday.

How quickly the 24-year-old can bounce back from his illness will have major implications for the final Grand Slam tournament of the year.

Sinner and world No. 2 Alcaraz have separated themselves from the pack, having won the last seven major titles between them.

While Sinner has compiled a stellar 31-4 win-loss record this year, three of those defeats have come at the hands of the Spaniard, who rolls into Flushing Meadows with a ton of momentum and a chance to grab the world No. 1 ranking from Sinner.

Prior to Monday’s final, Sinner looked unstoppable, not dropping a set in his first tournament since winning Wimbledon for his fourth Grand Slam title in July.

“I feel like it was a very positive week,” Sinner, who won the Cincinnati title last year, said on Monday.

“Making finals of a Masters event, it’s always an amazing achievement. So we’ll keep going, keep pushing. I have some points where I need to improve if I want to go far in the US Open. And it was a good test this week, trying to understand where my level is.”

He said his focus was firmly on the biggest stages the sport has to offer.

“I love Grand Slams a lot. These are the main tournaments for my season and for my career,” he said.

“So US Open is going to be a tough tournament, but at the same time, I’m looking forward to it. If I’m ready, physically and mentally, I will be ready to push.

“So now I have a couple of days of recovery, and then we get back to work, and hopefully we’ll be ready.”


Swiatek, Ruud romp into US Open mixed doubles semis, Alcaraz, Djokovic out

Swiatek, Ruud romp into US Open mixed doubles semis, Alcaraz, Djokovic out
Updated 20 August 2025
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Swiatek, Ruud romp into US Open mixed doubles semis, Alcaraz, Djokovic out

Swiatek, Ruud romp into US Open mixed doubles semis, Alcaraz, Djokovic out
  • Swiatek and Ruud will meet top seeds Jessica Pegula of the US and Britain’s Jack Draper in Wednesday’s semifinals
  • Italy’s reigning champions Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani ousted second seeds Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz 4-2, 4-2

NEW YORK: Iga Swiatek shrugged off lingering weariness to partner Casper Ruud to back-to-back victories in the revamped mixed doubles competition at the US Open on Tuesday.

Swiatek — who on Monday had battled through a two-hour tussle with Jasmine Paolini to win the Cincinnati Open — looked full of energy as she and Ruud powered into Wednesday’s semifinals.

Swiatek and Ruud needed just 39 minutes to dispatch the US pairing of Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe 4-1, 4-2 in their opening game at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and then reappeared roughly 20 minutes later to defeat Caty McNally and Lorenzo Musetti 5-3, 4-2 in their quarterfinal clash.

The victories capped a gruelling 24 hours for Polish star Swiatek, who hot-footed it to the airport after Monday’s win in Cincinnati and only arrived at her hotel in New York in the early hours of Tuesday.

“Honestly the last two days have felt like one day, but I’m super happy to be here,” Swiatek said, adding that her tight turnaround had helped her unwind after her exertions in Cincinnati.

“Honestly I think actually it’s kind of nice for the recovery,” Swiatek said. “To have another task and to not let yourself be lazy but also focused on the next exciting thing.”

Ruud and Swiatek had just enough time to fit in a quick practice before taking to the court in their first match as a doubles pairing.

“I was happy to team up with Iga,” Ruud said afterwards. “She’s on the winning train these days so I’m just jumping on the train and let’s see if we can win some more before the mixed doubles is over.

“I think everyone should show some appreciation to Iga today. She only got to her hotel 12 hours ago at 2.30am, and she’s here playing.”

Swiatek and Ruud will meet top seeds Jessica Pegula of the US and Britain’s Jack Draper in Wednesday’s semifinals.

Pegula and Draper clicked smoothly to eliminate the glamor pairing of Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu 4-2, 4-2 in the first round before easing past Russia’s Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva 4-1, 4-1 in the quarter-finals.

Medvedev and Andreeva had earlier romped past Novak Djokovic and Olga Danilovic in straight sets in the first round, winning 4-2, 5-3.

In other results on Tuesday, US tennis icon Venus Williams and partner Reilly Opelka exited against Karolina Muchova and Andrey Rublev, losing 4-2, 5-4.

Italy’s reigning champions Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani ousted second seeds Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz 4-2, 4-2.

Earlier Tuesday, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal from the mixed doubles was confirmed as expected. Sinner, who retired due to illness in the first set of his Cincinnati Open final with Alcaraz on Monday, was due to partner Katerina Siniakova in the doubles.

Sinner and Siniakova were replaced in the draw by the American duo of Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison.

This year’s US Open mixed doubles competition is being held over Tuesday and Wednesday in the week before the main singles draws get under way.

The tournament is using a modified scoring system, with short sets to four games, no-advantage scoring, tiebreakers at four-all and a 10-point match tiebreak in lieu of a third set.

The final will be a best-of-three set match to six games, featuring no-advantage scoring, with tiebreakers at six-all and a 10-point match tiebreaker instead of a third set, with the winning pairing pocketing $1 million.


Alcaraz wins the Cincinnati Open after Sinner retires in the first set because of illness

Alcaraz wins the Cincinnati Open after Sinner retires in the first set because of illness
Updated 19 August 2025
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Alcaraz wins the Cincinnati Open after Sinner retires in the first set because of illness

Alcaraz wins the Cincinnati Open after Sinner retires in the first set because of illness
  • Meeting in the final for the fourth time this year and first since Wimbledon, Sinner fell behind 5-0 in the first set with nine unforced errors

CINCINNATI: Carlos Alcaraz won the Cincinnati Open title in a little more than 20 minutes on Monday after top-ranked Jannik Sinner was forced to retire because of illness during the first set.

Meeting in the final for the fourth time this year and first since Wimbledon, Sinner fell behind 5-0 in the first set with nine unforced errors. He was seen with an icepack on his head during a break and retired after playing just 22 minutes.

“Didn’t feel great from yesterday,” Sinner said. “Also during the night, I thought I would recover a bit better, but it was not the case. I just tried to go out for the fans, trying to give a match. But it was not meant to be for me today.”

It was only the third time the Cincinnati Open men’s final ended in a retirement, and the first since 2011 when Novak Djokovic stopped playing in the second set because of a shoulder injury.

“Wanted to wish Jannik a speedy recovery and in a few days, hopefully he’s going to be OK,” Alcaraz said. “For myself, I am really, really happy to lift the trophy. I lost the final here in 2023. I wanted really badly this trophy.”

Sinner, who turned 24 on Saturday, was on 12-match winning streak and had won 26 straight matches on hard courts. He was bidding to become the first player to win back-to-back men’s Cincinnati Open titles since Roger Federer in 2014 and ‘15.

Alcaraz, who is ranked No. 2, now holds a 9-5 advantage in his matchups with the Italian.

Sinner won in four sets at Wimbledon while the Spaniard won a five-set thriller at the French Open and in straight sets in the Rome Masters in May.

Another classic matchup wasn’t to be on Monday. Sinner received medical attention after having his serve broken for the third time and retired moments later.

“After the third game, I just noticed that he wasn’t feeling good,” Alcaraz said. “I know him. I’ve been battling against him, having great matches, great battles. I noticed he was missing more often. It’s pretty weird from him.”

It was only the third time the top two men’s players have met in the Cincinnati Open final, the last being No. 2 Djokovic and No. 1 Alcaraz in 2022 and No. 1 Roger Federer and No. 2 Djokovic in 2012.

No. 3 Iga Swiatek faced No. 7 Jasmine Paolini in the women’s final later Monday.

The Cincinnati Open is considered a tuneup for the US Open, which begins Sunday in New York. The last two years, both the men’s and women’s Cincinnati Open champions went on to win the final Grand Slam tournament of the year.