This year’s Mubadala World Tennis Championship had its fair share of misfortunes.
First, less than two weeks before the start of the event, the French duo of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils pulled out with injuries.
Then, with Rafael Nadal and Nicolas Almagro, one of the late replacements, making their return from injuries, a couple of the matches probably did not live up to their billing.
Almagro was brushed aside 6-3, 6-2 by Stan Wawrinka in just 61 minutes on Thursday while Nadal was whipped 6-2, 6-0 in his opening match the next day by Andy Murray.
On Friday, Wawrinka, the Australian Open champion, kept to his tradition of unpredictability, lasting only 57 minutes on the court against world No 1 Novak Djokovic in a 6-1, 6-2 drubbing.
Still, the fans did not seem to care. They packed the Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex, especially on the final day, in anticipation of what should have been a riveting finale between the three-times defending champion Djokovic and the winner of the inaugural edition, Murray. It was not to be.
A couple of hours before the final, tournament organisers announced Djokovic’s withdrawal with an illness, leaving many fans disappointed.
Given all those setbacks, this year’s event probably did not match the success of previous editions, but Greg Sproule, the managing director of organisers IMG Middle East, dismissed any such suggestions.
“I still think it’s been one of the most successful tournaments,” Sproule said.
“When we look at ticket sales, we look at the community things we have done to grow the game at the grassroots level. Thanks to our friends at Mubadala, I think it is a success.
“I think the player field that we’ve managed to assemble is phenomenal and I’m proud of that.
“Guys and ladies get injured, and when it does happen, you make the best decision with the best information that you can.”
With tournaments such as the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) and other exhibitions around the globe encroaching on the players’ rest and recovery time, observers worry about an increase in the number of off-season injuries. Tsonga and Monfils both took part in the inaugural IPTL and were advised by their doctors to rest following the three-week tournament.
However, Murray, who appeared in the Manila leg of the IPTL, said he does not believe these new tournaments in the off-season could lead to more injuries, as some warn.
“I train every single year over in Miami, normally from the first week of December through until the last few days in December,” the Scotsman said. “There isn’t any rest time for the players. They are training, working out and preparing.
“I personally wouldn’t want to play three weeks of matches during that period, but playing a few matches against high-quality players, like I did over here in Abu Dhabi, can be good.”
Djokovic, Nadal, Wawrinka, Feliciano Lopez and Almagro, the other players in Abu Dhabi last week, expressed similar opinions about the MWTC and are looking forward to being invited again next year.
So, while the event might have suffered a little because of injuries this year, it remains a favoured destination for top players on their way to Australia.
arizvi@thenational.ae
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The chef's advice
Troy Payne, head chef at Abu Dhabi’s newest healthy eatery Sanderson’s in Al Seef Resort & Spa, says singles need to change their mindset about how they approach the supermarket.
“They feel like they can’t buy one cucumber,” he says. “But I can walk into a shop – I feed two people at home – and I’ll walk into a shop and I buy one cucumber, I’ll buy one onion.”
Mr Payne asks for the sticker to be placed directly on each item, rather than face the temptation of filling one of the two-kilogram capacity plastic bags on offer.
The chef also advises singletons not get too hung up on “organic”, particularly high-priced varieties that have been flown in from far-flung locales. Local produce is often grown sustainably, and far cheaper, he says.
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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
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
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It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
