The world’s best have been battling it out in Miami this fortnight but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been keeping an eye on the Arab players scattered around the world, working hard to try and gain some valuable ranking points.
Here’s a quick look at what they’ve been up to:
Lamine Ouahab (MAR)
Ouahab is originally Algerian, but problems with his federation forced him to switch nationalities and he’s been representing Morocco from the start of 2014.
He peaked at No114 in the rankings back in 2009 and is currently in the middle of a comeback, which has taken him up to No257 in the world (third-highest ranked Arab). He’s playing a Futures event in Croatia this week, where he’s seeded No4.
Ons Jabeur (TUN)
The Tunisian teenager, a former Roland Garros junior champion, is coming back from ankle surgery and is playing only her third tournament since October last year.
She lost her opening matches in her first two events back and will be looking to get her first win of the year when she faces Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic in the $50,000 event in Croissy-Beaubourg today.
Jabeur is currently ranked 140 in the world.
Malek Jaziri (TUN)
The Arab No1 qualified for the Miami Masters for the first time in his career but lost in the first round to Colombia’s Alejandro Gonzalez.
He’s playing in the Guadalajara Challenger this week in Mexico, where he is unseeded. The world No118 opens against France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
Omar Behroozian (UAE)
The UAE No1 is looking to get some practice ahead of the Davis Cup in Iran and is playing a Futures in Bahrain this week. He got two wins to qualify for the main draw and opens against Great Britain’s Matthew Short.
Mohamed Safwat (EGY)
The Arab No2 is seeded No4 in a high-level field in a Futures in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. He’s made back-to-back finals there in the last two weeks, including one title, and is hoping to re-enter the top-200. He’s currently at 207.
The 23-yearold stars against fellow Egyptian Mazen Osama.
