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Pegula and Pliskova power through DDF Tennis Championships knockouts
World No 3 Jessica Pegula overcame an early scare to defeat qualifier Ana Bogdan by a score of 6-4, 6-3 and go to the quarter-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Bogdan of Romania defeated her top-ranked foe in game two and quickly raced to a 3-1 lead, but Pegula then turned on the jets and won five of the next six games to take the opening set.
Attempting to reach a second successive WTA final after her loss to World No 1 Iga Swiatek in Doha last weekend, Pegula remained on top in the second set, closing the match out in just one hour and 36 minutes to become the first name in the Dubai quarter-finals.
“She came out really intense so I really had to raise my level. I’m just glad I was able to come back in that first set and kept my focus,” said Pegula, whose parents own NFL team Buffalo Bills and NHL outfit Buffalo Sabres.
World No 3 Jessica Pegula is in the quarter-finals.
Madison Keys, a countrywoman of Pegula, kept up her remarkable form by defeating 15th seed Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 6-1, in just 57 minutes as she attempted to advance to her maiden quarterfinal in Dubai.
With a leg injury, Azarenka appeared to be having trouble moving, but Keys triumphed easily after stunning Caroline Garcia, the fourth seed, in the Round of 32. Keys, a Grand Slam finalist at the US Open, worked really hard to complete the task.
“Obviously not feeling well, but I guess I get to play another match,” said Azarenka. The 27-year-old stated, “I’ll use what I did today and do it again tomorrow. “The only thing you can do in a circumstance like this is concentrate on your own game and make your shots.”
Over on Court One, Karolina Pliskova continued her fine form at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, securing her place in the quarter-finals with a 7-5, 6-7, 6-2 victory over Anhelina Kalinina.
Admitting she feels “relaxed” in Dubai, 2015 runner-up Pliskova followed up her emphatic 6-1, 6-2 victory over No 6 seed Maria Sakkari in the Round of 32 with another solid performance against the Ukraine’s Kalinina, who dumped out 10th seed Veronika Kudermetova in her opening match.
The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has clarified six situations in which employees may not receive compensation for workplace injuries or occupational diseases.
The rules are part of the country’s occupational health and safety framework, which aims to reduce workplace accidents while ensuring employers and employees follow safety standards.
When compensation can be denied
According to MoHRE, employees may lose their right to compensation if they:
- Intentionally injure themselves.
- Are under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicating substances at the time of the incident.
- Deliberately ignore clearly displayed workplace safety instructions.
- Cause the injury through intentional misconduct.
- Refuse, without a valid reason, to undergo a medical examination or follow prescribed treatment.
- Are found by authorities to have intentionally violated workplace safety regulations.
Employer responsibilities
Under UAE labour laws, employers must provide a safe workplace by:
- Supplying personal protective equipment (PPE) free of charge.
- Training employees on workplace safety.
- Conducting health checks where required.
- Keeping records of workplace injuries and occupational diseases.
- Reporting workplace accidents to the relevant medical and police authorities.
Employers are also required to investigate workplace incidents and maintain health records for employees exposed to occupational risks.
Compensation rules
Employers must cover medical treatment costs for work-related injuries and occupational diseases.
Compensation is calculated based on the employee’s latest basic salary and should be paid within 10 days of the medical report determining the level of disability.
If a workplace injury results in permanent disability or death, compensation is paid according to UAE labour regulations, with the final assessment made by a specialised medical committee.
Importantly, employers cannot terminate an injured employee’s contract until all legal entitlements have been settled.
What counts as a work injury?
A work injury includes accidents that happen while performing job duties, as well as certain accidents during direct travel to or from work. Occupational diseases linked to an employee’s job are also covered under UAE law.
Focus on prevention
MoHRE says the regulations are designed to balance employee protection with personal responsibility. While workers are protected when injuries occur during the course of employment, they are also expected to follow workplace safety rules.
The ministry continues to inspect private-sector companies to ensure compliance, helping create safer and healthier workplaces across the UAE.
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