After a lengthy absence, Rafael Nadal is back, both at the top of his game and playing in Abu Dhabi, with an electric, eclectic arsenal that is more gripping than ever.
He is again the undisputed world No 1, a player who continually wows observers with his startling array of practised, tactical and crisply executed moves. At times, it feels like a triumph of choreography. Some might even call it a clinical exhibition.
Moreover, Nadal is impressive during live action, too.
After missing last year’s event, Nadal begins play on Friday night in the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, where he is a two-time winner. A packed house of approximately 5,000 will file into the Zayed Sports City tennis venue to watch the most riveting player in tennis, if not all of sport.
Behold Nadal, the man who puts the tic in ticket.
Already at the top of his craft with 13 grand slam titles, and coming off a transcendent, 10-win season in which he put a seven-month battle with a balky knee behind him, Nadal is more watchable than ever. We are not necessarily talking about ground strokes or footwork – unless his personal imperative to step across baselines and sidelines, always right-foot first, is the topic of discussion.
Rarely has an elite player been more interesting between the shots, if not between the ears.
What began as a handful of peculiarities has grown into a list of habits that is difficult to catalogue. A few months back, ESPN listed some of his pre-serve compulsions, and stopped at 12.
An Australian paper identified 20 on-court rituals. There was little overlap between the lists.
“Athletes are taught that routines are important,” said Dr Gio Valiante, a sports psychologist and author in the United States. “But don’t forget that a rut is nothing but a bad routine.”
At what point do rites become wrongs?
The Spaniard, 27, is a winning machine, a career grand slam winner, yet as the victories have piled up, so have the quirks. It begins with a cold shower, 45 minutes before every match. The foibles then are carried onto the court, packed like the multiple rackets in his bag, for full view.
“He has told me before he can stop doing them,” his uncle and coach, Toni Nadal, told a Spanish website, “and I have told him to do it.”
As the fidgeting continues, it is easy to understand how a player could fall into the comfort of routine. Sport is all about repeating physical patterns and finding the proverbial groove.
What was noticed years ago as a single, particularly odd habit – Nadal must pick at the back of his shorts before every shot – has become a laundry list that is almost impossible to recite.
“That is something I am doing all my career,” the Spaniard said of his undershorts, “something I cannot control.”
That phrase says it all, really. Some experts say rituals are a way to establish some sense of familiarity, if not outright domain, regarding the uncontrollable. Few occupations have more high-stress variables than a sporting event.
From the weather conditions, to the mood of the chair umpire, to the degree of execution by their opponent, sport is an unscripted drama conducted in a fishbowl.
Routines are often an illusion of order, a degree of compartmental management, over the proceedings. Ever-evolving, Nadal’s indulgences seem to work.
Between points in particular, he seem to be strung more tightly than his racket, with folded towels positioned across his knees just so and two water bottles carefully positioned between his feet. He is fastidious.
While Nadal goes through a 30-second checklist of ingrained habits before every serve, including pulling the hair over both ears while touching his nose in between, plus knocking the dirt from his shoes and adjusting both shirtsleeves in an arranged order, the real oddities begin during the changeover.
Parked in his courtside chair, it is fair to question whether Nadal is in control of his rituals, or whether they are controlling him. Two bottles of water, labels facing the court, are placed between his shoes, which are tied in regimented fashion and worn over socks that are incessantly adjusted to exactly the same height. A fresh headband, crisply folded and retrieved from a plastic bag, is tied into place.
The water bottle on the left must be placed a few inches in front of the one on the right. One contains warm water, the other cold. He takes a sip from each, and quite deliberately replaces each bottle in the same sweat ring on the court, adjusting their position to within a fraction of an inch. He once was overheard warning a ball boy, “Don’t touch the water.”
Earlier this year in Monaco, opponent Marinko Matosevic intentionally knocked over Nadal’s bottles, though Nadal merely laughed and shrugged. Probably a good sign. No sense being manic about it. Of course, moments later, he repositioned the bottles.
When it is time to start playing again, Nadal waits until his opponent stands first, then avoids walking on the court lines, stepping across the stripes with his right foot first, even if it means breaking stride.
On YouTube, a fan chronicled five Nadal quirks taking place, in rapid succession, solely as he walked onto the court.
It has become a parade of unavoidable twitches.
“He will tell you what you want, but I am zero obsessive,” Toni Nadal said in the Spanish interview.
“At first I didn’t mind, but a player who puts bottles in line with the court and will not step on lines is obsessive.”
Whether it has become a disorder is a clinical call, but the oddities have begun to carry over into his personal life, which is often the point when red flags start climbing therapeutic flagpoles for some, Valiante said.
Nadal has been seen hopping through hotel lobbies, careful to avoid stepping on cracks in the tile. Earlier this year, when he won the US Open, he reportedly ate at the same New York restaurant every night he wasn’t playing. Not only that, he ordered the same meal.
“A routine is not always a habit of excellence,” Valiante said. “It can be an addiction. There is no clinical line. It depends on what people in your life are willing to tolerate.”
Perhaps Nadal is an artiste who is merely expressing himself, both eccentrically and successfully, through a different prism.
After all, Pablo Picasso, who often avoided straight lines, was a Spaniard, too.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Neymar's bio
Total club appearances 411
Total goals scored 241
Appearances for Barca 186
Goals scored for Barca 105
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
Players Selected for La Liga Trials
U18 Age Group
Name: Ahmed Salam (Malaga)
Position: Right Wing
Nationality: Jordanian
Name: Yahia Iraqi (Malaga)
Position: Left Wing
Nationality: Morocco
Name: Mohammed Bouherrafa (Almeria)
Position: Centre-Midfield
Nationality: French
Name: Mohammed Rajeh (Cadiz)
Position: Striker
Nationality: Jordanian
U16 Age Group
Name: Mehdi Elkhamlichi (Malaga)
Position: Lead Striker
Nationality: Morocco
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
The%20specs
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
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
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20Profile
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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
What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
Tips for SMEs to cope
- Adapt your business model. Make changes that are future-proof to the new normal
- Make sure you have an online presence
- Open communication with suppliers, especially if they are international. Look for local suppliers to avoid delivery delays
- Open communication with customers to see how they are coping and be flexible about extending terms, etc
Courtesy: Craig Moore, founder and CEO of Beehive, which provides term finance and working capital finance to SMEs. Only SMEs that have been trading for two years are eligible for funding from Beehive.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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
The Vines - In Miracle Land
Two stars
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh359,000
On sale: now
More on animal trafficking
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
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).
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
More on Quran memorisation:
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
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