See a request that fits? Tap "Let's play!". Seriously π
We've caught ourselves doing this too: a request pops up β right day, right area, right level β and we scroll past. "What if he already has someone?" Spoiler: he doesn't.
Nobody posts a request "just in case". A person blocked an evening for tennis and is now waiting for someone to answer. Your response is not "sorry to bother you" β it's the whole reason the request exists.
The flow is short: tap the request β hit "Let's play!" β the player confirms β you have a match. The rating is right on the card, so "am I even his level?" answers itself before you tap.
One tip from us: don't leave it for tomorrow. A request is tied to a specific day β while you think it over, someone else is playing your match. (Yes, we've watched that happen.)
There are open requests in "Available" right now. Pick one today β and tell us in the comments how the game went.
Rival Mate
Rival Mate is a home for racket sports players in the UAE. Today: tennis & padel partners in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. More racket sports coming.
Set your level, area and free times β see players nearby. Free, opens in your browser.
19/08/2026
Now you see who you are playing against β ratings are visible on requests π
You open a request: Saturday, 9:00, your city β but who is this player? Stronger, weaker, your level? Not knowing is what stops many of us from responding. Not anymore.
π Rating is visible on every request. You see not just the day and place, but the player's level. No more guessing, no more awkward "so... how do you play?" messages.
π New players have a rating too. Even before the first match, the profile quiz gives a starting estimate β an approximate number marked with "~".
β
Every match makes it more precise. After 5 matches the "~" disappears, and your rating becomes established β your real, proven level.
What the numbers mean:
π΅ 1100β1300 β Beginner
π’ 1400β1600 β Intermediate (1500 is the middle)
βͺ 1700+ β Advanced
When you know the level, responding is easy. Check "Open" β is there a request at your level right now?
12/08/2026
Every request in Rival Mate now has a share button. What it changes:
- π Invite exactly who you want. Posted a game for Saturday 9:00? Send the link to a friend in any messenger β he sees the day, time and place, and responds in one tap.
- π¬ No retelling. Before: "Saturday... nine... you know the courts near..." Now the link says it all for you.
- πΎ Friends not on Rival Mate yet? Even better. Your request is their first look at the app β they open the link, see a real game waiting, and joining takes a minute.
Where to find it: open your request and tap the share icon. Then pick the chat β that's it.
Your next request can bring you not just an opponent, but a whole company. Who will you send yours to first? πWho will you send your request to first?
08/08/2026
Playing outside in the Abu Dhabi heat? Read this first βοΈ
Summer courts in the UAE are a real test: +40Β°C, humidity, and the sun overhead. You can still play β if you respect the heat:
π
Play early or late. Before 8:00 or after 18:00 the court is a different place. Skip the midday sun (11:00β16:00).
π§ Drink before you feel thirsty. Take a big bottle and drink every changeover, not just after the game.
β οΈ Watch for warning signs. Dizziness, headache, goosebumps in the heat, or you suddenly stop sweating β stop right away, move to shade, drink. No match is worth it.
π§’ Small things that help: a cap, light-colored clothes, a towel, a break in the shade every 30β40 minutes. Indoor and shaded courts are an option too.
The easiest way to make this a habit: post a recurring request for 7:00 or 19:00 β and your whole summer is booked at safe hours, once.
What are your personal rules for summer games? Share them in the comments β they may help another player π
06/08/2026
When did you last play? Your next match is 4 taps away πΎ
The racket is resting in the corner, the week rolls by β and the game keeps waiting for "someday". Meanwhile players near you are posting requests right now.
Every match in Rival Mate starts the same way: someone posts a request. The rest happens by itself β players near you see it and respond.
Posting one takes 4 taps:
1οΈβ£ Open the play calendar and tap the day you want to play.
2οΈβ£ Choose the type β one-time for this Saturday, or recurring for every Tuesday.
3οΈβ£ Set the time and your area.
4οΈβ£ Post it. Done β your request is visible to players around you.
Under a minute β and your week has a match in it instead of "someday".
So, when did you last play? Post a request for this week β and tell us in the comments π
25/07/2026
Why a play calendar and not just a list of requests π
When we designed Rival Mate, we had a choice: show your requests as a simple list β or as a calendar. We chose the calendar, and here is why.
Take a real week. You work five days, two days off, and you are free every Tuesday at 19:00. You set one recurring request β and it stands on every Tuesday of the month. Then one week turns out lighter, and you can also play on Saturday at 14:00. You add a one-time request for that day. Done: your month is planned in two moves.
Now open the calendar β and this is where it beats any list:
- The whole month at one glance. Every Tuesday is marked, Saturday too. You see your playing month like a picture, not like lines of text.
- Plans change? Two taps. A work trip on one of the Tuesdays? Open that day and remove just it β the rest of the schedule stays.
- Recurring and one-time work together. The calendar shows both kinds side by side, so nothing gets lost.
A list can only tell you what you posted. A calendar shows you your month.
How do you plan your games β a steady weekly slot or spontaneous days? Tell us π
13/07/2026
That great match you played on Saturday? It still counts πΎ
Until now, Racket Mate only knew about games you found through the app. But most players also play with friends, at clubs, at tournaments β and those matches just disappeared.
Not anymore. Now you can add any match yourself:
πΎ Played with a friend or at a tournament? Open the app, enter the score β done.
π All your games live in one history: found through RacketMate or added by hand.
π The more matches you add, the fuller your game stats become.
And one thing we want to keep fair: manually added matches don't change your rating. The rating counts only games played through the platform β so it stays honest for everyone.
Try it with your last match.
08/07/2026
One-time or recurring? Your two request types πΎ
There are two types of request. Each one is for a different need.
One-time β for a single day. Want to play this Saturday morning? Post it, play, done. This is best when you plan a game just once.
Recurring β you set it up one time, and it keeps your schedule for you. For example: "every Tuesday and Thursday evening." Your request stays on all those days, and it updates by itself. Set it up once, and people keep finding you β no need to post again.
A few useful things:
- Can't play on one of the days? Turn off just that day. The rest of your schedule stays.
- When you edit a recurring request, the app asks you: change only this day, or the whole series?
- When you delete a series, all its future days go too. We'll warn you first.
Which one fits you better β a game now and then, or a regular slot?
07/07/2026
The News section is here π
Racket Mate is growing β and now the platform has a dedicated place for important updates, community stories, and exciting events.
In this new section, weβll share platform news, match results, tournament announcements, player updates, and useful information for the community π
Itβs another step toward making Racket Mate more than just a place to find a game β but a living racket sports community.
Welcome to the News section π°β¨
06/07/2026
Hey everyone π
Weβre building Rival Mate β a simple app to help tennis players ( more racket sports in near future) in UAE find people to play with based on skill level, location, and availability.
Right now, weβre looking for a small group of early testers.
Nothing complicated β we just need real tennis players to try the app, tell us what works, what feels confusing, and what would actually make it useful.
As a tester, youβll help us shape the app before launch and get early access for free.
So if you play tennis in Abu Dhabi and youβve ever struggled to find the right match, youβre exactly the person weβre building this for.
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.