Semifinal Friday at the Road To MADO A/S4 – 3rd Fujairah Tennis Championships BU14

Tournament Overview

Event: Road To MADO A/S4 – 3rd Fujairah Tennis Championships BU14
City: Fujairah, UAE
Dates: November 6–15, 2026
Surface: Hard
Age Group: Boys 14U
Main Draw Size: 32
Qualifying Draw Size: 8
Official Ball: Wilson Championship
Entry Fee: AED 150
Awards: Prize vouchers
Road to Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open: Yes

The Story So Far

After a competitive week in Fujairah, the BU14 field is down to four. Consistent ball-striking and resilient match play have defined this edition, with two dominant campaigns and two gritty, pressure-tested runs converging on Semifinal Friday.

Form Guide: The Four Semifinalists

• Kamil RTEL BENNANI (SMA) – Scintillating form. Advanced from a first-round bye, then posted 6-1, 6-2 in the Round of 16 and 6-3, 6-1 in the quarterfinals. Sets won/lost: 4–0; games conceded: 7 in four sets.
• Kareem ZEINELDIN (365) – Battle-hardened. Survived two deciding match tiebreaks in R32 and R16 before edging the in-form Ivan Shitikov in straight tight sets 7-6, 7-5 in the quarterfinals. Clutch factor: outstanding in close moments.
• Yahia KARKOURI (SMA) – Relentless baseline control. Powered through with straight-sets wins, including a double-bagel in R16 and a composed quarterfinal victory featuring a 7-6(1) opener. Sets won/lost: 6–0.
• Yezid BACCOUCHE (IND) – Fresh and efficient. Benefited from an opening bye and a quarterfinal walkover, with a solid R16 win in between. Arrives with fewer court hours and plenty of energy.

Notable Results and Upsets

1. Kareem Zeineldin def. Ivan Shitikov in the quarterfinals: two razor-thin sets decided by key points at the close of each set.
2. Yahia Karkouri’s perfect set record: no sets dropped across three rounds, highlighted by a 7-6(1) tiebreak masterclass in the quarters.
3. Kamil Rtel Bennani’s dominance: just seven games conceded in four sets since the Round of 16.

Today’s Order of Play — Friday, November 13, 2026

Semifinal Friday features two marquee matchups. Court assignments and exact start times are to be confirmed by the referee; players should be ready for standard afternoon-to-evening blocks. Please check onsite boards and the official tournament page for live updates.

Live draws and any last-minute schedule adjustments: uaetennis.ae Tournament Centre.

What to Watch Tactically

• Semifinal 1 — First-strike tennis vs. big-point poise: Bennani’s clean patterns and early ball-taking against Zeineldin’s proven clutch serving and return blocks in tiebreak scenarios.
• Semifinal 2 — Physical baseline chess: Karkouri’s depth and rally tolerance against Baccouche’s freshness and ability to change pace. Early service holds could tilt momentum.
• Return games matter: Junior hard-court matches often swing on mid-rally consistency after neutralized first serves; look for body serves and backhand targets.

Conditions and Surface Notes

The hard courts in Fujairah reward balanced aggression and footwork discipline. With lighter evening breeze expected, serve + first ball execution and cross-court backhand stability should be decisive in pressure games.

Path to the Title

Winners today book a place in Sunday’s final. With two power baseliners and two closers on display, margins will be thin. Expect at least one tiebreak across the two semifinals.

Follow the UAE Tennis Federation for official updates, photos, and results. Full draws: Tournament page.