Ons Jabeur and Naomi Osaka will bring some star power to the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open doubles competition after it was announced the pair were awarded a wildcard.
The second edition of the tournament gets under way with the singles qualifying rounds on Saturday and runs until the final on Sunday, February 11. Jabeur and Osaka will both have plans to reach next Sunday's singles title match, but they will now also aim for doubles glory together.
While the singles tournament is the primary focus, the doubles event will surely generate more interest this year with the presence of two of the game's biggest stars.
Jabeur, 29, has been making history for Arab and African tennis throughout her career and as such is one of the most popular players in the region. Among her many milestones, the Tunisian became the highest-ever ranked Arab or African player – male or female – when she reached a career-high No 2, and she is the first Arab to reach a Grand Slam final, which she has achieved three times.
Osaka is a similar trailblazer for Japanese tennis. By winning her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2018, at the age of 20, Osaka became the first major champion from Japan. When she won her second major title, at the 2019 Australian Open, Osaka became the first Asian player to hold the WTA Tour's No 1 ranking.
Osaka once again completed the US Open-Australian Open double in 2020 and 2021 to solidify her status as one of the finest players of her generation. The 26-year-old has just begun her comeback after taking the whole of the 2023 season off to have a baby. She gave birth to her daughter last July.
While both players are more commonly known for their singles careers, Osaka has competed in the women’s doubles at all four Grand Slam tournaments, while Jabeur has played in the US Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon.
Jabeur previously partnered 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in the doubles competition at Eastbourne in 2022, where they reached the semi-finals before being forced to withdraw after the Tunisian picked up an injury.
The exact schedule for when Jabeur and Osaka will take to the court together will be revealed once the draw takes place on Saturday. Like the singles tournament, the doubles event begins on Monday.
As one of the seeded players, world No 6 Jabeur will begin her singles campaign in the second round on Wednesday, while Osaka, who received a wildcard into the main draw, will be in first-round action on either Monday or Tuesday.
Jabeur and Osaka will be part of a competitive singles line-up in Abu Dhabi, which comprises 10 of the world's top 20 players, including world No 5 and former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, ninth-ranked Maria Sakkari, and former French Open winner Barbora Krejcikova, ranked No 11. Emma Raducanu, who made history by winning the US Open as a qualifier in 2021, has also received a wildcard.
To purchase tickets for the tournament, visit www.mubadalaabudhabiopen.com/tickets.
Confirmed players for 2024 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open
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rpennington@thenational.ae
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16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
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C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
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1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
No more lice
Defining head lice
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Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
