Ons Jabeur's run at the at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open was ended at the quarter-final stage when defending champion Elena Rybakina triumphed after a thrilling battle on Thursday evening.
The Tunisian crowd favourite made the top seed fight all the way after coming back from a set down to level the match before eventually going down 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 at the International Tennis Centre at Zayed Sports City.
Having swept aside 17-year-old qualifier Sonobe Wakan in the previous round, top seed Rybakina – who defeated Jabeur in the 2022 Wimbledon final – was always going to provide a far sterner test.
And the Kazakhstani roared into a 3-0 lead before going on to take the first set in 29 minutes.
But Jabeur fought back in style with the three-time Grand Slam finalist taking a 5-1 lead, only to almost blow the advantage with a series of unforced errors before finally serving out the second set.
Jabeur then roared back from a 4-2 deficit in the decider and after saving two match points in her 6-5 service game, had all the momentum as she built a 4-2 advantage at the change of ends in the deciding tiebreak.
But Moscow-born Rybakina secured a last-four clash with Belinda Bencic after winning in two hours and 13 minutes.
“It was an epic match but never easy to lose one like that,” Jabeur told The National.
“It was a pretty good match from both of us. Always tough playing Elena. Obviously I'm disappointed for not winning this match, but it was very close.
“I will keep the positive and keep working to improve a lot of things. Hopefully next time I can get my revenge.
“I know that my level is coming back slowly. I'm glad that I'm doing like three sets against top ten but you know I'm a bit greedy so I want to do better for the next time and definitely will work harder and hopefully I can recover in time for Doha.”
Rybakina admitted Jabeur had made it “extremely difficult” before going on to win her sixth match in a row at the event.
“It was on script, we played really well,” Rybakina said of their sixth encounter which drew her level at 3-3 in their head-to-head record.
“We played so close every game, and I'm really happy that I managed to win … it was a big rollercoaster, but really happy to get through another round.”
Earlier, second seed Bencic continued with her impressive return from maternity leave with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in a repeat of the Tokyo Olympics final won by the Swiss.
Bencic secured her first semi-final spot since April 2023, the year she won the Abu Dhabi Open title after beating Liudmila Samsonova in the final.
“I always feel like against Marketa it's very tactical. It almost feels like chess a little bit,” she said.
“I feel like the wind was getting a little bit in our way for both of us. It was tough to serve. But we managed to do well and we had some great rallies.”
Bencic admits she had trepidation about how much tennis had changed in her absence after returning to action last October.
“I was really worried that, maybe the speed of the ball and the speed of how the girls are serving now and returning and everything will be maybe a little bit too much or a little bit too early for me,” she added.
“I had to work physically very hard, and it was a lot of work to come back for sure but I'm happy I'm getting to the same level.”
American world No 51 Ashlyn Krueger overcame eighth seed Leylah Fernandez 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 and will take on Linda Noskova in her first WTA 500 semi-final.
“I think we all know each other so well it's not going to depend on how someone is playing like yesterday, it's different than playing today so it's just about you know knowing the opponent and knowing what kind of game she has,” Krueger said after beating the Canadian in what was her third three-setter in a row.
“It's never easy playing another three-set match. I was just trying to develop the experience last night. I was resilient last night, so I was trying to do the same today.”
Czech youngster Noskova sealed her last-four place after defeating Poland's Magda Linette 6-4, 6-3.
Results
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Ziyadd, Richard Mullen (jockey), Jean de Roualle (trainer).
7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m
Winner: Barney Roy, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m
Winner: Secret Advisor, Tadhg O’Shea, Charlie Appleby.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Plata O Plomo, Carlos Lopez, Susanne Berneklint.
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.
Cracks in the Wall
Ben White, Pluto Press
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Company name: Farmin
Date started: March 2019
Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: AgriTech
Initial investment: None to date
Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The UAE's journey to space
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.
And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.
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
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
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