Six years ago, Zheng Qinwen and Coco Gauff squared off in the final of the Orange Bowl U18 tournament, which is arguably the most prestigious junior tennis event in the world.
Gauff, who was 14 at the time, defeated a 15-year-old Zheng, to finish her junior career on a high note.
On Saturday in Riyadh, the pair will square off on one of the biggest stages in women’s tennis: the championship match of the WTA Finals. “It's cool to see, like, six years later, here we are,” said Gauff on Friday.
Zheng and Gauff’s shared history extends beyond the court. They’ve both been coached by Spanish former ATP player Pere Riba, who currently works with Zheng but was part of Team Gauff from June to October 2023 – a stretch that included the American’s US Open title run.
This is Riba’s second stint with Zheng, having worked with the Chinese star from 2021 to mid-2023, guiding her from outside the top 100 to inside the top 30 within that span.
They reunited end of last year and have since enjoyed tremendous success together with Zheng reaching a maiden Grand Slam final at the Australian Open, winning Olympic gold in Paris, rising to a career-high No 7 in the world, and now being one victory away from becoming the first Asian player to win the WTA Finals title.
“He always has lot of passion on tennis,” Zheng said of Riba this week. “This is important. He really wants to be a good coach. Not so many coaches on tour have this type of passion.
“Many coaches, they just consider this as a high prize job. But there are a few coaches on tour, they really love the tennis, they want their player to become the best, they want their player to improve every single day. I think he's this type of coach.”
Riba indeed loves tennis and wants nothing but progress for Zheng.
He got to witness his charge shoot to superstardom in China, after she clinched the Olympic gold medal, and together, they achieved great results during the Asian swing last month, where Zheng made the semi-finals in Beijing, the final in Wuhan (her hometown tournament), and won the title in Tokyo – all of which was done amid crazy levels of fandom all around her.
Riba says it didn’t surprise him how well she performed on court while getting so much attention, which normally would translate into pressure.
“The situation for her changed a lot, especially when she got the gold medal. All the atmosphere that she produced when she arrived to China, of course I like so much watching all the people that support and show love to her, is a big thing and nice thing for her. She enjoys it a lot. And when the player is happy, everyone is happy,” Riba told The National on the sidelines of the WTA Finals in Riyadh this week.
After making the Australian Open final in January, Zheng had a brief dip in results as she adjusted to her new status, but Riba believes she quickly learnt how to handle the situation and she has been on a winning spree since mid-July.
After losing in the Wimbledon first round, Zheng has won more matches than any other player on tour, posting a 31-5 win-loss record heading into Saturday evening’s final against Gauff.
Should Zheng defeat Gauff, she would rise to a career-high No 4 in the world and pocket $4,805,000 – the largest payout in history at a WTA Tour event.
From being on the cover of fashion magazines, to collecting record prize pots, it would be easy for Zheng to lose focus, but Riba assures that hasn’t been the case.
“She's doing great, she's practising so hard, until now, I only can say good words,” said the Spaniard.
“But for me, the most important thing is that she continues having the feet on the ground. It's so easy when you are getting these results, that is the best season of her life, winning like, a 250 tournament, a 500, final in a 1000, gold medal, final in a Grand Slam, top 10 … many big results and then it's like outside, it's so easy to listen to really good words, like you are the best, they are comparing you to Li Na, this so good.
“But then I'm saying to her, now is the moment where the most complicated thing that you have to do is keep your feet on the ground and continue doing the things that you are doing. Remember from where you come from, the origin, and keep going. Because it's so easy to forget. But for the moment she understands.”
Zheng has a fiery personality on the court and can often be seen arguing with Riba during practice – something they’ve both spoken about this week in Riyadh.
“She has a great heart. When you know her – because you have to know the people – she's an amazing person, she has a great heart. But of course, when she enters the court, me I have a lot of fights with her on court, because she is really ambitious,” Riba said of the 22-year-old Zheng.
“And me, also I want her to succeed. She is a really good tennis player because she has this character, this is the reason. But sometimes, she has to control the emotions and she still is so young. But no doubt that she's an amazing person.
“And sometimes this behaviour happens with all the players, because all the players want to win. She’s so young, and these small things that maybe the people can see it’s nothing. Because finally the person, the essence is really nice.”
Looking ahead to next season, Riba has every reason to believe Zheng can hit new heights. She is achieving many things that haven’t been achieved by a Chinese woman in tennis since Li Na, but the big one would be lifting a Grand Slam trophy – a feat only Li Na has accomplished for China.
“If she continues improving and given the way she is doing the things, me I'm optimistic, and of course, it's always complicated these goals, but she will arrive with realistic options to win a Grand Slam,” said Riba of Zheng’s prospects next season.
“It can happen or cannot happen, because many players are fighting for the same thing but she will arrive with the tennis and with the fitness and with all the things that she will be capable to do it.”
The fight for the world No 1 ranking has been exclusively taking place between Aryna Sabalenka – who ends this season at the summit – and Iga Swiatek, who has held the top spot for a total of 125 weeks.
Does Riba believe Zheng, or others in the chasing pack, can enter that No 1 conversation?
“Look, I don’t like to talk too much about the other players. But of course, if you analyse, we can see that this year, Aryna and Iga, they are fighting there, it’s like a little bit more up from the other ones,” he said.
“Bu there are three, four, five players that if they are working good, working in the right way, they can enter [the conversation], and they can fight to take the spot.
“Especially because there are young players coming up that are really good. And I have a lot of confidence in Qinwen, because she has the tools, she has the weapons, every month is better.
“I don’t see that she's at the top of her potential. To be honest, I think she is at 60 per cent of what she can be. And this gives me a lot of confidence that she's going to be one day there, I really believe that.”
Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
The Outsider
Stephen King, Penguin
Normcore explained
Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THE%20STRANGERS'%20CASE
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
HEADLINE HERE
- I would recommend writing out the text in the body
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- That's about it
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Cry Macho
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam
Rating:**
Company%20profile%20
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
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
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
RESULTS
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner RB Money To Burn, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner Ekhtiyaar, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner Benbatl, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Zakouski, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Kimbear, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Platinum Star, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Key Victory, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
The five stages of early child’s play
From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:
1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.
2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.
3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.
4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.
5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.
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Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
