DUBAI // Once hailed as one of the rising stars of women’s tennis, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has not really lived up to her billing yet, but never say never.
The 35-year-old Roger Federer’s impressive triumph at the Australian Open, 34-year-old Mirjana Lucic-Baroni’s inspirational foray into the women’s semi-finals and the memorable clash between the Williams sisters in the final have reignited Pavlyuchenkova’s dreams.
“If you look at Roberta Vinci and Flavia Pennetta when they had that final at the 2015 US Open, and also Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, Serena and Venus at this year’s Australian Open, they all are 30 or older,” Pavlyuchenkova said.
“So that gives me a lot of positives and hope as well. It just gives hope to everyone that if you just work hard, no matter what your age or ranking, you can still achieve your goals and play the best tennis of your life, and that’s very inspiring.
“I am still 25 and I have a few years ahead of me. Of course, you want everything right now, but it’s just a long-term process. The most important thing is health and then hopefully the work will pay off as well at some time.”
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Read more
■ Dubai talking points: Kerber slumping, Pliskova rising
■ Predictions: For the WTA Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
■ Johanna Konta: Briton the latest player to withdraw with injury
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Her pre-season, at least, has been paying off in 2017. In eight previous visits to the Australian Open, Pavlyuchenkova — a two-time junior Australian Open and one-time US Open champion — had never progressed beyond the third round. This year, she reached the quarter-finals, defeating Elina Svitolina and Svetlana Kuznetsova along the way, before losing to Venus Williams.
“I have never had a good start in previous years,” said Pavlyuchenkova, who reached No 13 in the rankings before her 20th birthday following a run to the Indian Wells semi-finals in 2009 that included victories over then No 2 Jelena Jankovic and No 10 Agnieszka Radwanska.
“I was always taking my time warming up and then getting a few good results towards the end of the year. So it was nice that my pre-season work paid off.”
That pre-season work, however, will be tested to the max here at the Dubai Duty Free Championships as Pavlyuchenkova has probably found herself in the toughest quarter of the draw.
A first-round loser on her last three appearances, she will open her campaign against a qualifier and if she gets through that, rising star Jelena Ostapenko awaits in the second round. In the third round, she is drawn to face tournament favourite and No 2 seed Karolina Pliskova.
World No 17 Barbora Strycova, the losing finalist last year, is also in the same quarter along with Australian Open semi-finalist Coco Vandeweghe.
“I feel like it’s a really strong part of the draw,” said Pavlyuchenkova, who lost to Pliskova in the 2015 opening round. “But again, the draw is just the names. When you go on the court, it makes little difference. Every day is a new day, a new match. So we will see how it goes.”
The top eight seeds have been given a bye into the second round, but there will be no shortage of excitement in the first round, especially given the clash between Doha finalist Caroline Wozniacki and Russian teenager Daria Kasatkina, who has beaten Angelique Kerber twice this year.
Among others, the match between Americans Alison Riske and Vandeweghe should also be compelling viewing, along with two other matches involving Americans: the clash between Kiki Bertens and Christina McHale, and the match between 17-year-old Catherine Bellis and Yulia Putintseva.
TOP EIGHT SEEDS
1. Angelique Kerber
2. Karolina Pliskova
3. Dominika Cibulkova
4. Agnieszka Radwanska
5. Garbine Muguruza
6. Elina Svitolina
7. Elena Vesnina
8. Barbora Strycova
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Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
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Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
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Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
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Quick facts on cancer
- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases
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- 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries
- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable
- Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers
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strategies
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
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