Last month at the Australian Open in Melbourne, two Arab tennis players, Aziz Dougaz and Hady Habib, each battled through three qualifying rounds to secure themselves a Grand Slam debut.
It marked the first time two Arab men featured in the singles main draw at a major since 2018 – when Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri and Egypt’s Mohamed Safwat played at Roland Garros – and Dougaz says it felt bigger than just a personal milestone.
The 27-year-old Tunisian had to knock out Lebanon’s Benjamin Hassan in the second round of qualifying before he finally locked down his spot in a Grand Slam main draw on his sixth attempt.
“We were all so happy to be together there, we shared a lot of moments during those weeks [in Melbourne] and I hope we can keep playing these events together,” Dougaz told The National.
“I hope Abdullah Shelbayh [of Jordan] also can be with us in the next slams, it would be amazing for the Arab world to have four players competing in slams. And we have to use it also as good competition.
“We motivate each other. Me and Hady were speaking every day, congratulating each other and saying, like, ‘I've got it done, it's your turn now’. I was always motivating. I was also really happy to see him winning matches.”
Both Dougaz and Lebanon’s Habib have accepted wildcards into this week’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and will be contesting their opening rounds on Monday.
“We both know how far we’ve come and how much work we put in and how much belief and how many hurdles we had [to overcome] to be there, so I think our situations are quite similar,” added Dougaz.
Dougaz and his coach Yannick Dumas had set the goal of qualifying for a Grand Slam during the offseason last December. They felt his biggest chances would come on hard courts, which meant the Australian and US Opens were at the top of his priority list for 2025.
He felt focused and ready heading into the action in Melbourne and while his results there did not take him by surprise, Dougaz admits it was an emotionally taxing experience, with lots to take away from.
“For sure it was an unbelievable experience,” reflected Dougaz. “The dream for any tennis player or any kid starting to play tennis is to qualify in the slams and be able to face the best players in the game.
“Emotionally, I would say it was extremely challenging. I played all my matches pretty late in the day. For example, the first round I finished 7-6 in the third around 9pm.
“I was thinking I was going to have a day off the next day but I was on again the next day against Benjamin at 3pm.
“So it doesn't give you much time to actually enjoy the win. I maybe had 5-10 minutes to enjoy the win, celebrate a little bit with my team and right away we were thinking, 'OK, recovery, match prep for the next day, practice booking' and already like mainly focused on the next game.
“Was the same thing for the second round, as soon as I won against Benji, I was on again the next day pretty early on.
“So it's crazy with tennis, we have to reset so fast after each win and stay in the present.
“I would love for us to have a little bit more time sometimes to celebrate the wins but that's how sport works. And, yeah, it was for sure challenging emotionally to recover after each win to reset and perform again the next day.”
Dougaz lost in the Australian Open first round in four sets to former top-25 player Yoshihito Nishioka and walked away with a deeper understanding of how to manage a best-of-five-sets match – and how to mentally handle the momentum shifts that can occur at that level.
This month, he received wildcard entries into the Doha and Dubai main draws for the first time and is keen to soak up the experience as much as possible as he continues to build up his ranking.
“It's a privilege, it's amazing to be playing this event here,” the world No 216 said on Sunday.
“We only have two ATP 500s in the Arab world so it's an amazing opportunity we get to compete here, face the best players in the world.
“It's a dream come true as well, growing up watching Qatar, watching Dubai. I was dreaming to play these events so it means a lot to be here.
“It's great to see how hard these tournaments are trying to help the Arab players and promote the game in the region.”
As a lefty, Dougaz can sometimes struggle to find a suitable practice partner at tournaments, since the majority of players are right-handed and would like to prepare for a right-handed opponent.
In Dubai, he hit with Jiri Lehecka on Sunday, knowing that the in-form Czech will be facing left-handed defending champion Ugo Humbert in the opening round.
Dougaz says competing at such high-level tournaments “takes some adjustments”, be it the intensity of the matches or the consistency he has to bring to the table.
“Being able to see this these top guys practising in and out every day, you see how consistent they are in their work, in the level … that's the that's the biggest challenge and it shows us where we want to be and how much work and how much sacrifice it's going to take to get to that level,” he explains.
“So it's a really big chance to be here, it's a privilege and we have to make the most out of it in terms of experience, of learning, and hopefully in the next years gain our spot by the ranking [and not via wildcard].”
As he attempts to make the leap from the Challenger level to the ATP level, Dougaz is aware he will have to endure some tough defeats along the way.
He knows that the majority of tennis players lose every week, since only one person can win any given tournament, and says learning how to lose is an essential part of competing in this sport.
“Four years ago, I would let a loss affect me a lot, it would take me a day or two to reset, to emotionally recover,” he said. “Now with my coach, we try to reset as fast as possible because we don't have many days between tournaments.
“You lose today, you've got to be back on the practice court tomorrow and that's also one of the things I noticed with these top players; it's quite unbelievable how fast they recover.
“I saw multiple examples last week in Doha, players losing in three sets late in the night and next day you're back in the middle of the day you find them practising for two hours, so you're like, ‘OK well, that’s the difference and that's where I have to keep getting better’.
“And I think I've done a really good job getting better at that but I still have a long way and a lot of things to keep improving.”
Dougaz has many memories of watching the Dubai tournament on TV, and recalls following his compatriot Malek Jaziri’s run to the semi-finals back in 2018.
Jaziri defeated the likes of Grigor Dimitrov and Stefanos Tsitsipas en route to the final four, where he fell to eventual champion Roberto Bautista Agut. “That was a true honour to see him play that well in such a big tournament,” said Dougaz.
Jaziri isn’t the only one Dougaz draws inspiration from. The Tunisian says he’s been watching more and more player press conferences and interviews, which he finds particularly beneficial to gain a deeper insight into the mentality of champions.
“I feel like match highlights only show the best moments, the moments of glory, the moments where the shots are perfect and it's not the reality of tennis,” he says.
“And I feel some players that are still true to themselves, I think it's super enjoyable and super beneficial to watch their press conferences because they open up a lot about a lot of things, about their mindset, about how they manage life on tour, all the difficulties.
“I've been enjoying a lot, for example, the interviews and press conferences from Daniil [Medvedev] and Novak [Djokovic].
“I feel like these two guys are super true to themselves, really open in the interviews and a little bit far from the politically correct that most players kind of do in the interview. So yeah, it's been super beneficial to watch.”
Dougaz will kick off his Dubai campaign against Belgium’s Zizou Bergs on Monday on Court 1 (second match from a 2pm start).
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WandaVision
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany
Directed by: Matt Shakman
Rating: Four stars
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Adele: The Stories Behind The Songs
Caroline Sullivan
Carlton Books
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Results
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Rooney's club record
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The%20specs
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THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
More from Neighbourhood Watch
How to vote in the UAE
1) Download your ballot https://www.fvap.gov/
2) Take it to the US Embassy
3) Deadline is October 15
4) The embassy will ensure all ballots reach the US in time for the November 3 poll
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More coverage from the Future Forum
AIDA%20RETURNS
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
TALE OF THE TAPE
Manny Pacquiao
Record: 59-6-2 (38 KOs)
Age: 38
Weight: 146lbs
Height: 166cm
Reach: 170cm
Jeff Horn
Record: 16-0-1 (11 KOs)
Age: 29
Weight: 146.2lbs
Height: 175cm
Reach: 173cm
The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
Race results:
1. Thani Al Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi: 46.44 min
2. Peter Morin (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team: 0.91sec
3. Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team: 31.43sec
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The team
Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory
Videographer: Jear Valasquez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
ALL THE RESULTS
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmomdov (TJK) bt Rey Nacionales (PHI) by decision.
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) bt Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR) by submission.
Catch 74kg
Omar Hussein (JOR) bt Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) by decision.
Strawweight (Female)
Seo Ye-dam (KOR) bt Weronika Zygmunt (POL) by decision.
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) bt Walid Laidi (ALG) by TKO.
Lightweight
Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) bt Leandro Martins (BRA) by TKO.
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) bt Sofiane Benchohra (ALG) by TKO.
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR) no contest.
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) bt Glen Ranillo (PHI) by TKO round 1.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) bt Aidan Aguilera (AUS) by TKO round 1.
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) bt Sasha Palatkinov (HKG) by TKO round 1.
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) by KO round 1.
The biog
Name: Sari Al Zubaidi
Occupation: co-founder of Cafe di Rosati
Age: 42
Marital status: single
Favourite drink: drip coffee V60
Favourite destination: Bali, Indonesia
Favourite book: 100 Years of Solitude
SHOW COURTS ORDER OF PLAY
Wimbledon order of play on Saturday, July 8
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Centre Court (4pm)
Agnieszka Radwanska (9) v Timea Bacsinszky (19)
Ernests Gulbis v Novak Djokovic (2)
Mischa Zverev (27) v Roger Federer (3)
Court 1 (4pm)
Milos Raonic (6) v Albert Ramos-Vinolas (25)
Anett Kontaveit v Caroline Wozniacki (5)
Dominic Thiem (8) v Jared Donaldson
Court 2 (2.30pm)
Sorana Cirstea v Garbine Muguruza (14)
To finish: Sam Querrey (24) leads Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (12) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6, 1-6, 6-5
Angelique Kerber (1) v Shelby Rogers
Sebastian Ofner v Alexander Zverev (10)
Court 3 (2.30pm)
Grigor Dimitrov (13) v Dudi Sela
Alison Riske v Coco Vandeweghe (24)
David Ferrer v Tomas Berdych (11)
Court 12 (2.30pm)
Polona Hercog v Svetlana Kuznetsova (7)
Gael Monfils (15) v Adrian Mannarino
Court 18 (2.30pm)
Magdalena Rybarikova v Lesia Tsurenko
Petra Martic v Zarina Diyas
