Ten years ago, when Ali Al Marzooqi was 7 years old, he recalls watching the television screen with bated breath, as Roger Federer knocked out Rafael Nadal in the Dubai Tennis Championships. His curiosity for the game was piqued. "I was really interested in Nadal's technique and how he plays. I kept telling my mum I want to play tennis like Nadal."
While his friends were all more interested in playing football, young Al Marzooqi signed up for tennis lessons at the Abu Dhabi Country Club, with a Tunisian coach. Now, 10 years later, Al Marzooqi is one of the UAE’s rising tennis stars.
“Right from the start, I wanted to be the best,” the 17-year-old explains. “I started really dedicating myself to this game when I was 10. I wanted to reach junior level and play tournaments, and I got the best ranking three years ago for the under-18 and under-16 categories – I was ranked fourth in the UAE.”
Al Marzooqi recently started studying for a degree in business administration and management at the American University of Dubai, and tennis is taking a back seat so he can focus on academic success. But Al Marzooqi still manages to cram in practice sessions at Zayed Sports City’s Tennis Academy at least three times a week, as well as daily 45-minute workouts at the gym near his family home, near Al Shahama.
Often, when Al Marzooqi is fielding volleys from coach Vasja Gorjup, he’s being cheered on from the sidelines by his 22-year-old sister Reem – the youngest of his seven sisters – who is a student at the American University of Sharjah and a tennis player herself. “She is the one who is always encouraging me to play,” says Al Marzooqi.
He admits that his friends were initially shocked when they came along to watch him play tennis. “Although I kept telling them I was a tennis player, until recently, they had only ever seen me playing video games,” he explains. “But they’ve come to watch me play a few times now, and they say that they think it’s impressive.”
Although tennis is not the most popular game among young Emiratis, Al Marzooqi isn’t the first Emirati tennis player with lofty ambitions to make it to the big time. Omar Behroozian, an Emirati from Dubai who is the captain of the national tennis team, has made it as high as number 805 in the Association of Tennis Professionals rankings. “Omar has an academy in Dubai, so I’ve played him a couple of times – he is following me to see my level and how I’m improving,” Al Marzooqi says.
Although Al Marzooqi is pleased with his serve and forehand techniques, he’s still working on perfecting his backhand. He also admits he’s had moments when his nerves have got the better of him on the court. “I struggled last year – I was so nervous playing matches, my mental game was not on point at all,” he says. “But I took advice from my mum. She said: ‘You have nothing to lose, just play. Even if you lose, at least you know you tried.’ I was building on that advice and I reached a couple of semi-finals and finals. I felt a huge difference when I got my nerves sorted. If you are tense and there’s a feeling of fear in the match, you won’t reach a higher level. But if you have confidence in your shots, you’ll reach your goals and play better tennis.”
Al Marzooqi still takes inspiration from the “King of Clay”, Nadal. Thanks to the Mubadala World Tennis Championships, which are held every December in Abu Dhabi, Al Marzooqi has had the chance to meet his idol “more than 10 times”. Every time he comes here, I go along to his meet and greets,” he says. “The first year [in 2009] my sister and I made a funny video of him, and he remembered me the following year.”
Al Marzooqi won the Mubadala Community Cup in 2014 and landed a place in a clinic with Nadal. He also met him once at Doha airport and at a tournament in Madrid. “He is a very humble guy, very down to earth and very interactive with his fans,” he says.
How do you celebrate a win?
I don’t show any emotions most of the time. If I reach a semi-final, I jump up and down, but there are no emotions in my first couple of rounds.
What’s your favourite sport, apart from tennis?
Football. I support AC Milan and FC Barcelona, too.
Which is your favourite cuisine or restaurant in the UAE?
I like to go to Zuma in Dubai, when I have time.
Where do you see yourself after 10 years?
Playing for the International Tennis Federation and slowly building up to playing at a professional level.
What music do you listen to?
Hip-hop and rock. I like Drake, and when it comes to rock, I’m a big fan of AC/DC.
Who is your favourite actor?
Tom Hanks. He stars in two of my favourite films: The Terminal, where he is stranded in an airport, and Cast Away, where he's stuck on a desert island.
If you were marooned on an island like Tom Hanks in Cast Away, what possessions would you like to have with you?
My phone, for sure, but actually personal items don’t mean that much, as long as I’ve got food and family with me.
What do you do to unwind after a game of tennis?
I like to play Fifa football video games. But I only have time to play video games at weekends, now that I’m at university.
Who inspires you?
Rafael Nadal, but also I like Roger Federer because he is the greatest tennis player of all time. I take on board advice from coaches as to how Nadal and Federer win their matches, using their mental strength.
weekend@thenational.ae
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Christopher Robin
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Haley Atwell, Jim Cummings, Peter Capaldi
Three stars
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
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.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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The view from The National
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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The five pillars of Islam
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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