Game Set Match Dubai
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We’ve watched them play their hearts and guts out at the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open Tennis championships.
As I write this the Australian Open Tennis Tournament is on. Greats such as Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Stanislas ‘Stan’ Wawrinka…the winner of the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Classic Tournament, Serena Williams and the newly crowned No. 1 , Andy … Sir Andy Murray, are all geared to win the first Grand Slam of the New Year. We hardly ever get the opportunity or are lucky to be there in time to watch these exciting tournaments! We spot known faces watching from the Royal Box or Sponsor’s Box … do we have a niggle of something akin to envy at their good luck!? Well here’s a chance to be at a major tournament doing all the things we’ve always dreamed of doing! Watching a quarter-final or Semi-final match in the stadium itself, a once in a lifetime opportunity of hitting a few rounds in the morning, on the same courts as the greats, maybe bump into a demi-god or two, with some luck even a ‘Hi!’ or a hand-shake is possible!
I’m heading to Dubai on the 1st of March to watch the best international tennis players competing in one of the most eagerly awaited sports events, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. This will be the 25th year of the event and brings the world’s best players to Dubai.
It’s a stellar line-up. Along with Murray is seven-time winner of this championship, the iconic Roger Federer and other top ten players battling to wrest the crown from Stan Wawrinka! The womens’ line-up is just as impressive.The present world number one Angelique Kerber, Agnieszka Radwanska, Simona Halep and Johanna Konta, whose meteoric rise through the rankings in 2016, reaching the top ten, is being avidly followed by fans world-wide!
Dubai is one of the most exotic and desirable getaway destinations on the planet, with a breathtaking collection of resorts visited by some of the most famous and influential celebrities in the world enjoying topflight entertainment, acclaimed restaurants and incredibly-themed shopping malls.
Every time I land at Dubai’s International Airport, I am dazzled by its opulence and the huge numbers of travelers passing through Dubai, to the distant destinations of the world, is mind-boggling.
Dubai is a city known for luxury shopping and amazing ultramodern architecture. It has emerged as a global city and the business hub of the Middle East. The city has become iconic for its skyscrapers and high-rise buildings, in particular the world’s tallest building … the 830m-tall Burj Khalifa tower dominates the skyscraper filled skyline.
At its foot lies the Dubai fountain with jets and lights choreographed to music. On artificial islands just offshore is Atlantis, The Palm, a resort with water and marine animal parks. Many Bollywood stars, the most famous, Shahrukh Khan, have homes here!
Dubai is a major transport hub for passengers and cargo. The Emirate’s Western-style model of business drives its economy with the main revenues now coming from tourism, aviation, real estate, and financial services. Dubai has recently attracted world attention through many innovative large construction projects and sports event. Dubai has been rated as one of the best places to live in the Middle East by U.S. global consulting firm Mercer.
This year the Championships is set to celebrate this important 25th Anniversary in style. Record crowds are expected to flock to the stadium and the Tennis Village, which will have food and entertainment, music, autograph signings. Besides the big screens showing the action live, there will be Kids’ Days, a Ladies’ Night and more.
Dubai is a destination easily accessible and great for a short get-away … I personally take the opportunity a couple of times a year for short breaks … hotels are luxury, conveyance is available and air-conditioned, many options for world class dining or family outings and of course the amazing shopping malls and duty-free shopping!!
