DUBAI: Naomi Osaka‘s rapid climb to the very top of the game has been nothing short of astonishing. Last year when she competed in Dubai she was ranked a modest 48, but immediately after losing in the quarter-finals she took her first steps to super stardom by winning the Indian Wells title, and just a few months later she stunned the …

DUBAI: The women’s final of the Australian Open saw current US Open champion Naomi Osaka battle with two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, with both players vying for their first Australian Open title and the world No.1 ranking for the taking. Prior to the match, the Emirates suite played host to a mix of celebrities, Skywards members and VIP guests, showcasing …

DUBAI: The fourth meeting of the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan on Thursday was a quality affair officially highlighted by the 1400m Al Fahidi Fort sponsored by Emirates Global Aluminium (G2) and the 1800m Al Rashidiya (G2)—both $250,000 events on the turf course. The 3-year-olds hoping to earn their way into the $2.5 million UAE Derby (G2) got …

DUBAI: Thursday’s fourth meeting of the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival is a quality one highlighted by a pair of Group 2, $250,000 turf features, the Al Fahidi Fort (Race 5) and Al Rashidiya (Race 3), which each produced subsequent winners on Dubai World Cup night in 2018. A new race, the $100,000 Al Bastakiya Trial (Race 2) for 3-year-olds …

DUBAI: Arguably the best card thus far of the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival will take place on Thursday night at Meydan Racecourse, including a top-class field assembled for the evening’s co-featured Group 2 $250,000 Al Fahidi Fort. Chief among the competitors is Australia’s Comin’ Through, who exits a run in the Hong Kong Mile (G1) at Sha Tin on Dec. …

DUBAI: Two-time Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships winner Elina Svitolina will bid for an unprecedented third straight title when play gets underway next month. As she moves into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, Svitolina also has her eye on making history in Dubai. No woman player at the tournament has ever claimed three consecutive crowns. Justine Henin, who at …

DUBAI: British youngster Alex Connor will race with British F4 Team Champions for the 2019 season. 14-year-old Alex, will be one of the youngest drivers in British F4 history when he makes his debut for the Arden team this season. Alex is a UAE born, racing driver, who started racing in November 2013 in the Sodi World Series (SWS) Junior …

DUBAI: Racing at Meydan on Saturday was highlighted by a night of thrilling finishes, including in the evening’s two turf races—one over the sprint distance of 1400m and the other over the testing 2400m. In the former, Race 5 (Al Naboodah Construction Group Handicap), Rocket Power was able to record a fourth consecutive victory this season, having won his three previous outings …

DUBAI: While other city races may lay claim to be “Marathon Majors”, race results continue to show the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon as being the world’s ultimate long distance event for elite athletes, according to figures released by the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations). Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge may certainly have set the world alight with a new world record …

DUBAI: Thursday’s third evening of the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan was highlighted by the $250,000 Cape Verdi sponsored by Azizi Developments, a 1600m turf feature restricted to fillies and mares, won in style by Poetic Charm. The winner was a seventh in the race for Godolphin, fourth in consecutive years and second for trainer Charlie Appleby, whose Certify …