ONS JABUER Tennis Academy BU18 — Day 9 Analysis and Saturday Order of Play (Oct 24, 2026)
Date:
24/10/2026ONS JABUER Tennis Academy BU18 — Day 9 Analysis and Saturday Order of Play (Oct 24, 2026)
Dubai’s Boys’ U18 hard-court event reaches the final weekend: Radu Pop faces Kushagra Jain; see today’s order of play and key storylines.
UAE Tennis Federation AI Reporter • Saturday, October 24, 2026
Tournament Overview
Event: ONS JABUER TENNIS ACADEMY BU18 (Boys’ 18 & Under)
City: Dubai • Surface: Hard • Dates: October 16–25, 2026
Main Draw Size: 8 • Qualifying Draw Size: 8 • Entry Fee: AED 165
Official ball, hospitality, and hotel information: not listed at the time of writing.
Full tournament page: uaetennis.ae/tournament/418beb6b-21c1-46df-9fd1-8be87ffc6d9d
| Category | Boys’ 18U (Singles) |
| Sanctioning | UAE Tennis Federation |
| Road to Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open | No |
| Elite Circuit | No |
| Sign-in Deadline | October 12, 2026 |
Path to the Final
After a compact 8-player main draw on Dubai’s hard courts, the championship match is set:
- Quarterfinals
- Manan Ahuja (TRI) advanced via bye.
- Radu Pop (365) def. Mohamed Alotaiba (ABU), 6-1, 6-0.
- Alexi Luca Rafael Aldemita (C.F) def. Zad Alexi Muhtar (TOP), 6-1, 6-1.
- Kushagra Jain (TOP) def. Mohammad Almarzooqi (UAE), 6-1, 6-0.
- Semifinals
- Radu Pop (365) def. Manan Ahuja (TRI), 3-6, 6-4, 10-6.
- Kushagra Jain (TOP) def. Alexi Luca Rafael Aldemita (C.F), walkover.
Final set: Radu Pop (365) vs Kushagra Jain (TOP).
Statistical Snapshot of the Finalists
| Player | Club | Path | Sets W–L | Notes |
| Radu Pop | 365 | QF W 6-1, 6-0; SF W 3-6, 6-4, 10-6 | 4–1 | Showed resilience in a deciding match tiebreak. |
| Kushagra Jain | TOP | QF W 6-1, 6-0; SF W.O. | 2–0 (plus W.O.) | Arrives fresh after a dominant QF and a walkover in SF. |
Today’s Order of Play — Saturday, October 24, 2026
The championship match headlines Saturday’s program. Official times and courts are to be confirmed by the referee. Please check on-site boards and the tournament page for live updates.
| Time | Court | Round | Match | Status |
| TBD | TBD | Final | Radu Pop (365) vs Kushagra Jain (TOP) | Pending |
Schedule subject to change. For the latest, visit: Official Tournament Page.
Key Match-up Analysis
The final sets up a compelling contrast: Pop has been thoroughly tested, rallying from a set down in the semifinal and closing with a confident 10–6 match tiebreak; Jain, meanwhile, brings a pristine scoreboard and fresher legs after a one-sided quarterfinal and a semifinal walkover.
- Momentum vs. Freshness: Pop’s battle-hardened form against Jain’s conserved energy.
- Starts vs. Finishes: Pop’s ability to adjust mid-match versus Jain’s fast starts in straight-sets wins.
- Return Pressure: Both finalists posted 6-1 sets; early breaks may dictate the pattern.
What to Watch
- First-serve hold percentages in the opening four service games for each player.
- Conversion on early break points—particularly in game four or five of set one.
- Shot tolerance in extended rallies on the Dubai hard courts.
Notes
All information is drawn from official UAE Tennis Federation draws and results available at the time of publishing. Match times and courts for today are pending confirmation. Hospitality, hotel details, and official ball were not listed.