Of all the curveballs thrown at tennis players because of the pandemic, contesting the qualifying rounds of the Australian Open in Dubai and Doha this week, instead of in Melbourne next month, is definitely the most unusual one.
"It's kind of strange because I still don't understand, do I have to download the application for Australian Open on my phone or how will it work? It's tough to realise it," joked Russian world No 145 Natalia Vikhlyantseva, who was speaking to The National from the secure bio bubble set up for the players at the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel and the adjacent Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.
The qualifying tournament of a Grand Slam is typically staged in the week prior to the event. At three of the four majors, qualifying matches take place at the same venue. Wimbledon takes a slightly different approach and holds its qualifiers at Roehampton, which is just a 10-minute car ride away from the All England Club.
This is the first time in history a qualifying tournament of a Slam is held at a location outside the host city.
With a mandatory two-week quarantine enforced on all international arrivals into Melbourne, Tennis Australia came up with the creative idea of staging the women’s qualifying matches in Dubai, and the men’s in Doha, nearly a month ahead of the February 8 start date of the Australian Open. Players who make it through and book their spots in the main draw will then board chartered flights and head Down Under.
The decision was made relatively last minute, and players had to rush to readjust their plans for the start of the 2021 season.
Quick change of plans
Vikhlyantseva says plane ticket prices from Russia to Dubai surged ahead of the holiday season, with the emirate being a popular destination for Russians, and she almost missed her flight because the PCR test certificate she had with her was not stamped by the medical clinic that issued it. She ran through the Moscow airport to take another test and boarded the plane as they were announcing final call.
Organisers barely had a month to get everything ready in Dubai and Doha, including onsite testing, sanitisation and other safety measures, alongside the actual operation of the tournaments. Tennis Australia sent their live-scoring and live-streaming suppliers into town but onsite operations are all done by local teams.
Up for the task
“Oh wow, where to start?” said AO qualifying Dubai tournament representative Kay Godkhindi when asked about the most challenging part of organising the event.
“Having one month to plan an event is never ideal but we have a good set-up over here, using the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, the suppliers, the hotel … so in that way, those elements were a little bit easier because we just approached the people that are involved in the annual Dubai event.
“I have to say the testing has been challenging, with the current situation in Dubai, with cases going up and it only happening so recently, it’s put a lot of pressure on our medical provider and in turn, there have been situations where it’s taken longer for testing results to come through.
“But we’re working diligently on that and making sure that we can get the results out in time because it’s so crucial that the health and safety of this event is at the level that is required.”
Securing the bubble
Those familiar with the Dubai venue will know that the main stadium is surrounded by bars and restaurants, open to the public year-round, and that some of the facilities, like the gym and pool, at the onsite hotel are used by hotel guests and members.
To maintain a secure bubble, the access from the courts and the hotel to the Irish Village has been closed off, and a special gym has been set up for the players outdoors in the garden warm-up area so they wouldn’t cross paths with anyone who is not subjected to regular PCR testing. The players also have their own designated dining area, with glass shields placed between the tables.
“It’s very, very well-controlled in terms of Covid. There is always someone sanitising the equipment in the gym the second you finish working out, same goes for the restaurant; anything you touch gets sprayed immediately. I feel like it’s a very safe environment,” said Egyptian Mayar Sherif, who advanced to the second round of qualifying in Dubai on Monday.
A taste of Melbourne
The backboards of the courts in both Dubai and Doha are emblazoned with Australian Open branding, which is a welcome reminder for the players about what’s at stake while competing.
The courts in Doha were resurfaced in Australian Open blue, but the ones in Dubai have remained their regular green and blue. Ball kids are used in Dubai but not in Doha. Organisers were obviously racing against time and it was a matter of working with what they have.
Egyptian Mohamed Safwat, who made the second round in Doha on Sunday, was impressed by how quickly arrangements were made for the men – who were originally also going to play in Dubai – to get visas and special entry permits into Qatar, which is currently not open to non-citizens and non-residents.
The players are staying at the Ritz Carlton in Doha, where they also have designated areas separate from the other guests at the hotel. Safwat says players and their coaches can only use the service elevator and must shower at the hotel and not onsite. There are shuttles available every 15 minutes between the hotel and the tennis club, which allows players to leave immediately after their matches.
“It’s a different experience, of course, than when you play at the Australian Open, but the courts are the same colour. For me, I have good memories from this place, it’s nice to play in this venue always,” said Safwat, whose very first ATP main draw win came at the Qatar Open.
“The problem is that what usually makes the difference is the fans. When you play at the Australian Open, a lot of people showed up to watch qualifying. There were a lot of emotions. It feels different without the fans, you’re walking around site completely on your own. Qualifying for a Slam is the same everywhere, but it’s the fans that give excitement and suspense to the occasion, they give a different taste.”
Missing the crowd
Both Middle East events are played behind closed doors as fans and media are barred from site. Sherif and Safwat would have benefitted from the presence of fans as the only two Arabs in either qualifying draw.
“For me, I feel like it is exactly what it is: Australian Open qualifying,” Sherif said. “Actually, I feel like it’s even more than just Australian Open qualifying, because qualifying doesn’t just get you to the Australian Open, it allows you to play all the other tournaments in Australia. If you don’t qualify, you’re not going to get to travel.
“It would have been so nice if fans would have been allowed to attend, because I’m sure I would get a bunch of crowds coming, but there is no crowd so I don’t really feel I’m in Dubai, since I only see the hotel and the courts. I wish they had crowds.”
The players are mostly grateful that the Australian Open did not axe the qualifying tournaments altogether, as was the case with the US Open last summer.
‘Not easy to have confidence or momentum’
It’s tricky starting a season by immediately playing a Grand Slam qualifying event without any warm-up tournaments, but players, especially in the 100-200 ranking bracket, are just happy to take what they can get.
“It’s not easy, it’s been a tough year in 2020, we didn’t get too much rhythm, we didn’t have too many tournaments back-to-back, so I think we’re adapting to this also,” said Turkey’s Cagla Buyukakcay, who came through her first round in Dubai on Sunday.
“So these tournaments are of course for us a big chance to compete, a big opportunity to fight again for what we want. I would love to have some preparation before, that’s true, but we got used to it also. There’s nothing to do, you focus on your first game and hopefully I can play better than today for the next match.
“For sure it’s not easy to have confidence or have momentum to be in the rhythm but 2020 was like this and I think we’re adapting on this also.”
Buyukakcay is pleased with the conditions and says even the heat and humidity in Dubai is similar to what the players usually experience in Melbourne.
“I didn’t feel it’s another organisation, the players are similar, the draw is big, everything looks good, so this gave me a grand slam feeling to be honest,” she added.
For Vikhlyantseva, getting that 'Grand Slam feeling’ has not been as easy.
“I think that it’s totally different because when you’re in Australia playing qualies – for sure it’s a different tournament and you need to win three matches to be qualified… but when you are already onsite and you don’t have that big time between the tournaments to just change your mindset, so it feels like one tournament,” said the Russian.
“And here it’s completely different, it feels like a different tournament. I think it’s like a $100k [ITF event] or something, when you need to get points to get last direct acceptance for the main draw, I think it feels like this.”
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
BIOSAFETY LABS SECURITY LEVELS
Biosafety Level 1
The lowest safety level. These labs work with viruses that are minimal risk to humans.
Hand washing is required on entry and exit and potentially infectious material decontaminated with bleach before thrown away.
Must have a lock. Access limited. Lab does not need to be isolated from other buildings.
Used as teaching spaces.
Study microorganisms such as Staphylococcus which causes food poisoning.
Biosafety Level 2
These labs deal with pathogens that can be harmful to people and the environment such as Hepatitis, HIV and salmonella.
Working in Level 2 requires special training in handling pathogenic agents.
Extra safety and security precautions are taken in addition to those at Level 1
Biosafety Level 3
These labs contain material that can be lethal if inhaled. This includes SARS coronavirus, MERS, and yellow fever.
Significant extra precautions are taken with staff given specific immunisations when dealing with certain diseases.
Infectious material is examined in a biological safety cabinet.
Personnel must wear protective gowns that must be discarded or decontaminated after use.
Strict safety and handling procedures are in place. There must be double entrances to the building and they must contain self-closing doors to reduce risk of pathogen aerosols escaping.
Windows must be sealed. Air from must be filtered before it can be recirculated.
Biosafety Level 4
The highest level for biosafety precautions. Scientist work with highly dangerous diseases that have no vaccine or cure.
All material must be decontaminated.
Personnel must wear a positive pressure suit for protection. On leaving the lab this must pass through decontamination shower before they have a personal shower.
Entry is severely restricted to trained and authorised personnel. All entries are recorded.
Entrance must be via airlocks.
if you go
The flights
Flydubai flies to Podgorica or nearby Tivat via Sarajevo from Dh2,155 return including taxes. Turkish Airlines flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Podgorica via Istanbul; alternatively, fly with Flydubai from Dubai to Belgrade and take a short flight with Montenegro Air to Podgorica. Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Podgorica via Belgrade. Flights cost from about Dh3,000 return including taxes. There are buses from Podgorica to Plav.
The tour
While you can apply for a permit for the route yourself, it’s best to travel with an agency that will arrange it for you. These include Zbulo in Albania (www.zbulo.org) or Zalaz in Montenegro (www.zalaz.me).
MATCH INFO:
Second Test
Pakistan v Australia, Tuesday-Saturday, 10am daily at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Entrance is free
New schools in Dubai
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS
Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)
Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye
Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine
Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye
Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)
Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)
Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra
Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh
Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar
Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Disability on screen
Empire — neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis; bipolar disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rosewood and Transparent — heart issues
24: Legacy — PTSD;
Superstore and NCIS: New Orleans — wheelchair-bound
Taken and This Is Us — cancer
Trial & Error — cognitive disorder prosopagnosia (facial blindness and dyslexia)
Grey’s Anatomy — prosthetic leg
Scorpion — obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety
Switched at Birth — deafness
One Mississippi, Wentworth and Transparent — double mastectomy
Dragons — double amputee
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Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHayvn%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EChristopher%20Flinos%2C%20Ahmed%20Ismail%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efinancial%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eundisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESize%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2044%20employees%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eseries%20B%20in%20the%20second%20half%20of%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHilbert%20Capital%2C%20Red%20Acre%20Ventures%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Zayed%20Centre%20for%20Research
%3Cp%3EThe%20Zayed%20Centre%20for%20Research%20is%20a%20partnership%20between%20Great%20Ormond%20Street%20Hospital%2C%20University%20College%20London%20and%20Great%20Ormond%20Street%20Hospital%20Children%E2%80%99s%20Charity%20and%20was%20made%20possible%20thanks%20to%20a%20generous%20%C2%A360%20million%20gift%20in%202014%20from%20Sheikha%20Fatima%20bint%20Mubarak%2C%20Chairwoman%20of%20the%20General%20Women's%20Union%2C%20President%20of%20the%20Supreme%20Council%20for%20Motherhood%20and%20Childhood%2C%20and%20Supreme%20Chairwoman%20of%20the%20Family%20Development%20Foundation.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs
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Six things you need to know about UAE Women’s Special Olympics football team
Several girls started playing football at age four
They describe sport as their passion
The girls don’t dwell on their condition
They just say they may need to work a little harder than others
When not in training, they play football with their brothers and sisters
The girls want to inspire others to join the UAE Special Olympics teams
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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
Chris%20Jordan%20on%20Sanchit
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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.
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
