Reem's Dubai diary: Bellis to hit UAE malls, slopes and dunes after DDF run

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  • Cici Bellis (Photo via DDF Tennis)

    American teenager Cici Bellis certainly picked the right tournament to post the best result of her career so far.

    The 17-year-old’s first top-10 victory that came against world No6 Agnieszka Radwanska last night saw her reach the quarter-finals at Premier 5 event for the first time.

    Along with the 190 points she collects for making the last-eight, Bellis has pocketed $56,115 for efforts so far this week and she is looking to treat herself when the tournament is over.

    “I really love travelling, and Dubai has been definitely one of my favourite places I have been so far,” said Bellis. “I have never been anywhere around here. So I have really loved it so far.

    “Everything is just perfect. I feel like everything is so nice. I went to the mall before the tournament, and it was so amazing. I’m planning on doing one of those camel rides after the tournament and a few other things if we get the time. “I think there is ice-skating there (at the mall), too. Definitely going to do that.

    “I think I heard at a different mall there is skiing. I’m doing that, for sure, for sure. We are staying an extra day, staying an extra day just to do the malls and the camels and everything. Pack it all into one day.”

    I’ve always liked a girl with a plan. Her agent might want to steer her away from the indoor skiing expedition at Mall of the Emirates though. No need for an unnecessary injury.

    KERBER’S A DUBAI FAN

    Bellis is not the only player to enjoy some extra-curricular activities in Dubai. While the players are staying at the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, which is attached to the Aviation Club where the matches are played, Angelique Kerber was able to step away from site a few times.

    “Of course it’s different (staying at an on-site hotel), but I take my time to get out. I mean, we went to the Dinner in the Sky, went to Dubai Mall once. I need my time off,” said the top seed.

    “So at the end it’s nice that the hotel is here. We just can go to the room. We have everything onsite so I like it, actually.”

    Asked what she liked about Dubai, Kerber added: “Everything. I think you can do everything here. I mean, yeah, this is a city where, yeah, whatever you want you can do it here. Normally the weather is nice here, so that’s why I like Dubai, as well. It’s a little bit different this year, but yeah, I like the people. I like to being here.”

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