Organisers of the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships are confident they have not seen the last of Roger Federer at the tournament, after the new world No 1 confirmed his omission from next week’s event.
The Swiss star, who last month climbed to 20 grand slam titles with victory at the Australian Open in January, had left the door open to play in Dubai following his win in Rotterdam a week ago.
Federer’s place in the quarter-finals had already ensured he reclaimed top spot in the ATP rankings for the first time since November 2012. At age 36, he became the oldest player to occupy the men’s summit.
Given those exertions, Federer has decided to sit out Dubai, an event he has won a record seven times, as he gets set to prepare for title defences in Indian Wells and Miami next month. His most recent Dubai victory came in 2015.
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Tournament director Salah Tahlak received confirmation on Wednesday that Federer would not compete next week from the player's agent, Tony Godsick. However, despite the disappointment, Tahlak said he fully respected the decision.
“I understand and I believe whatever’s good for him is good for us,” he said. “You can’t really push him more. Had he not won in Rotterdam he would have definitely come here. I really respect Roger as a person, as a professional and as an athlete.
"He’s so classy. He’s a legend. He has done well for the game, done well for Dubai. Getting to world No 1 after five years and 106 days, it’s an amazing result. So it’s good for him that he’s back to No 1.”
Asked if he expected Federer to participate in Dubai again, Tahlak said: “Probably, because Tony said yes, if we can plan things ahead, he will come back next year.”
The main draw for next week’s tournament begins on Monday, with world No 4 Grigor Dimitrov the highest-ranked player in the field.
The tournament is missing a number of marquee names, though, since past champions Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka are all out. The latter trio had expressed an interest to play, but injury issues to each meant they could not make it.
With Dubai an ATP 500 event, Tahlak thought the absence of some of the game’s best players could have perhaps swayed Federer to come.
“It would have been a good year to come and then maybe add another 500 points,” he said. “It would have been easier for him. It’s always difficult when Nadal and Djokovic, Andy Murray and Stan… none of them were here.
“In the end he decided with his coach, his physics. They know him best. As Tony said, he has to look at it health-wise, because in August he’s going to be 37 years old. For me, I can’t say anything, but that I wish him all the best.”
Tahlak acknowledged that the Dubai tournament is in “direct competition” with Acapulco, which takes place in the same week and offers the same ranking points. It is also closer in proximity to the established American hardcourt events. World No 2 Nadal headlines the field next week in Mexico, meaning the event boasts four of the top six in the current standings.
Tahlak said the evolution of tennis - the so-called "Big Four" are all in their 30s - could see a shift in how Dubai looks at putting together its roster.
“Like in football, in a way the players will all fade out one day, they’re all going to go,” he said. “So we have to accept that. We’ve been good for many years and I believe we should focus on the new generation.
“The head of the ATP, Chris Kermode, he’s promoting a lot the next generation, so we should do that. Because for how many more years will Roger last? Two more? And even Nadal, all of them. They’re coming to the end of their careers.
“But we should think of others. They’re doing well, we should not underestimate them. We have Dimitrov. The fans should understand tennis is like any other sport. It moves up and down. This is the game.
“And another problem is that a lot of players do also play [exhibitions] in the off-season. That gives them more money, but also more injuries and more risk to their health. Financially it means a lot for them, but also a risk of injuries. And that’s what we’re all suffering from, the other tournaments.”
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
The specs: 2017 Lotus Evora Sport 410
Price, base / as tested Dh395,000 / Dh420,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission Six-speed manual
Power 410hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 420Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.7L / 100km
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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The nine articles of the 50-Year Charter
1. Dubai silk road
2. A geo-economic map for Dubai
3. First virtual commercial city
4. A central education file for every citizen
5. A doctor to every citizen
6. Free economic and creative zones in universities
7. Self-sufficiency in Dubai homes
8. Co-operative companies in various sectors
9: Annual growth in philanthropy
Results
Stage 7:
1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29
2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time
3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious
4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
New schools in Dubai
Not Dark Yet
Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer
Four stars
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
A Prayer Before Dawn
Director: Jean-Stephane Sauvaire
Starring: Joe Cole, Somluck Kamsing, Panya Yimmumphai
Three stars