THE WORLD OF MARA – EPISODE FIVE

Mosques forbidden on Fridays in Dubai: tolerance but with respect A comfortable bed and a clean shower in the city of the yellow and black gold

2007-03-04 al 2008-04-30

Dubai is a sensational city, at times excessive. Everything seems aimed at luxury and at satisfying the numerous Western tourists staying there. It’s difficult to think that not so many years ago it was just a stretch of desert. But the discovery of petroleum and its exploitation has brought enormous capital, and this enormous capital formed the basis for a swift and surprising economic growth. Black gold, then, but there’s yellow gold everywhere too.

The Dubai suk is the market where you can find the precious metal more cheaply than anywhere in the world. Luxury is obviously present, too, in the hotel where the players are staying, but I have to say I don’t much care for excess. I’ve slept in much less luxurious hotels during my career and I’m quite content with a comfortable bed, a TV and a clean shower.

The first round put me up against the German player Martina Müller. The first set went well, but then the wrist which had been tormenting me since the last season began to hurt and I didn’t play as well as before. Things stayed even till we got to the tiebreak and I closed the match 7-6. In the doubles, together with the Czech player Uhlirova, we won the first match quite easily against the couple formed by my singles opponent and Koryttseva of Ukraine.

I have to confess that this long tour, which began soon after Christmas, is leaving me rather tired. A few small physical problems have reappeared and for my type of game I have to be 100% fit to be able to give my best. Dubai is a shopper’s paradise. No matter what you want, however strange or unusual, you can be sure to find it, or at the worst they can order it.

There are enormous waterfalls and panoramic lifts with breathtaking views inside every commercial centre. It’s wonderful. I wanted to visit the Great Mosque, but I had forgotten that Friday is the day of prayer and I wasn’t allowed to go in. I didn’t want to spark off a diplomatic incident, not least because the people here, while practising Muslims, are very tolerant towards other cultures. It’s right to respect others and to expect the same from them.

The Serbian player Jelena Jankovic was undoubtedly favoured over me. After losing the first set 6-3 I managed to reach 5-5 after a good many thrills and spills, but in the end I had to concede 7-5. In the doubles, too, defeat came from the number one couple in the tournament, Black-Huber of South Africa.

After a last look at the white beaches and the futuristic buildings it was already time to leave. Doha, the capital of Qatar was waiting for me. The Arabian campaign saw me repeat the two rounds, the first against another German player, Klösel, who I beat in two sets, and the second a “home teams’ match” against Francesca Schiavone.

Against my companion world champion I won the first set, lost the second at the tiebreak and had to withdraw from the third on account of a pain which suddenly got worse. And now for my American adventure.

I’m starting afresh from Miami, Florida. Hi from Mara