Road To MADO A/S4: Quarterfinal Picture Comes Into Focus at the 10th Al Habtoor Tennis Cup (GU18) in Dubai

Tournament Overview

The Road To MADO A/S4 – 10th Al Habtoor Tennis Cup (Girls’ U18) continues in Dubai this week, running from Friday, November 21 to Sunday, November 30, 2025. Played on hard courts with the Wilson US Open ball, this 16-player main draw event forms part of the UAE Tennis Federation’s Road to Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open pathway, giving promising juniors valuable match exposure and ranking momentum.

Draw Snapshot

Round-of-16 positions featured several byes at the top and bottom of the bracket, which accelerated top entrants toward the business end of the week. Based on the posted bracket, the quarterfinal slate shaping up includes:

• Xinru Zhong (SMA) vs TBD (winner of Angela Mittal vs Lana Mohsen)
• Arshpreet Kaur (FUT) vs Aisha Turdieva (PBI)
• Raania Thakur (SIM) vs Karina Ogorodnikova (FUT)
• Maria Kuzurman (RAC) vs Cara Du Toit (365, Namibia)

Form Guide and Storylines

• Top-line contenders: Xinru Zhong has progressed efficiently with a favorable pathway off an early bye, while Namibia’s Cara Du Toit anchors the lower half with clean baseline patterns and all-court adaptability.
• Middle-bracket intrigue: Arshpreet Kaur versus Aisha Turdieva promises contrasting tempos—Kaur’s compact first-strike tennis against Turdieva’s court coverage and counterpunching.
• Shot tolerance on hard courts: With the Wilson US Open ball and Dubai’s dry air, controlling depth and height through the middle remains a premium, rewarding players who manage tempo and absorb pace.
• Emerging depth: Raania Thakur and Karina Ogorodnikova add balance to the draw, each capable of stretching rallies and forcing adjustments in longer exchanges.

What It Will Take to Win This Week

1. Serve locations: Wide patterns in Ad court and body serves in Deuce to jam the returner.
2. First-ball clarity: Simple, high-percentage first-strike patterns to control direction early in rallies.
3. Resilience in wind windows: Short gusts in late afternoon often decide pivotal points; footwork discipline is key.

Today’s Order of Play — Thursday, November 27, 2025

Status: As of press time, the official court assignments and start times for today in Dubai have not been published. Below is the provisional slate based on the current quarterfinal bracket. Please check the live page for updates.

All times are local (GST) and subject to change. For the latest order of play and any weather or scheduling advisories, visit the official tournament page.

Keys to Watch Today

• Return depth vs pace: Who wins the battle of first-strike depth in the opening two shots?
• Second-serve pressure: Expect aggressive positioning on second-serve returns in tighter moments.
• Physical management: Matches bunched late in the week reward players with efficient holds and quick point construction.

Follow and Support

Fans can follow live updates and official communications via the UAE Tennis Federation digital channels and the event page linked above. Good luck to all players competing in Dubai today.