As the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships get under way, Ahmed Rizvi takes a look at a quintet of players who could make it big in the near future.
Eugenie Bouchard, Canada – Age: 19 – Current ranking: No 19
Starting 2013 as world No 147, Bouchard, right, has made an impressive rise up the rankings and boasts wins against top-10 players Samantha Stosur and Jelena Jankovic. When she beat Ana Ivanovic in the Wimbledon second round last year, an impressed Martina Navratilova saw “a potential grand slam champion”. The compliments and expectations have only increased, peaking at the Australian Open as she reached the semi-finals on her debut.
Sloane Stephens, United States – Age: 20 – Current ranking: No 18
Forced into the limelight following her win over Serena Williams at the Australian Open last year, Stephens had struggled to cope with the weight of expectations initially. But making the fourth round at Roland Garros and the quarter-finals at Wimbledon showed her Melbourne success was no fluke. She reached the round of 16 at the last two grand slams as well, and a first tour title should be around the corner.
Elina Svitolina, Ukraine – Age: 19 – Current ranking: No 39
Having started 2013 at No 131, Svitolina has gained 92 spots, and won her first tour title in Baku last July. Winner of the 2010 junior French Open, she reached the third round at the Australian Open last month, stunning two-time grand slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the opening round. She boasts a big serve and powerful groundstrokes.
Madison Keys, United States – Age: 19 – Current ranking: No 37
“Best hope I’ve seen for US since Williams,” former world No 1 Lindsay Davenport tweeted last January as Keys reached the third round of the Australian Open. Since then, her list of admirers has grown to include Li Na and Agnieszka Radwanska. “If she plays like this every match, she will soon be in the ... top 10,” said Li, who lost to her in Madrid. Keys has also defeated Carla Suarez Navarro and Simona Halep.
Donna Vekic, Croatia – Age: 17 – Current ranking: No 106
Trained in London by Tim Henman’s former coach, David Felgate, and mentored by Chris Evert, Vekic had already reached two WTA finals in her fledgling career. “I believe that we’re going to see a lot of her in the future,” said Caroline Wozniacki after beating the teenager at the Australian Open last year. “She’s tall and she’s going to improve a lot.”
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'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.
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Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
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Power: 310hp
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
