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DDF’s Tahlak elected to WTA Council Board

Dubai: In a recent special election conducted by the WTA, the official body that runs Women’s professional tennis, Salah Tahlak, senior vice president — Dubai Duty Free and Tournament Director, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, was voted on to the prestigious 12-member WTA Global Tournament Council Board.

Salah Tahlak is pictured here with Serena Williams (USA) and Italian doubles team of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci during the BNP Paribas WTA Finals at Singapore. — Supplied photo

In addition to this recent announcement, Tahlak has also been a member of the ATP Global Tournament Council since 2010, which is the official organization that runs men’s professional tennis on a worldwide basis.

Salah is the first UAE national to be a member of both tournament councils where he will participate in high level debates and discussions that decide the governance and future of professional tennis. Tahlak is also the first person from the UAE, GCC and the Arab world to be a member of both the WTA and ATP Tournament Councils.

Commenting on Salah’s election, Colm McLoughlin, executive vice chairman of Dubai Duty Free said, “On behalf of Dubai Duty Free, I want to sincerely congratulate Salah on his election on to the WTA Global Tournament Council Board. This move is a reflection on the importance that Dubai and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships have put into building up tennis in the region.

“Since taking on the role as tournament director of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 11 years ago and subsequently being appointed to the ATP Tournament Council four years ago, Salah has been a great ambassador for Dubai and Dubai Duty Free and has shown unparalleled commitment to the sport of Tennis, both here in the UAE and around the world. During that time Salah has represented the UAE in the international tennis community, in many different roles. Earning the trust of his colleagues once more is a tremendous accomplishment, and this election to the WTA Council proves that the world of tennis believes in the importance of his work and his dedication to the sport. We are all so very proud of him.”

The Global Tournament Councils comprise representatives from players and tournaments alike and are responsible for issues such as the annual calendar, rules, regulations, governance, prize money, bonus and new events. The next ATP and WTA Tournament Council meetings will be held in Melbourne, Australia, to coincide with the Australian Open Grand Slam to be staged from January 19 Jan to February 1 2015.

Salah Tahlak has been actively involved in the business of tennis ever since 1993, when Dubai Duty Free secured the first ATP tournament to be held in the UAE. The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships that will be staged from February 15 to 28 at the Dubai Duty Free Stadium and will comprise a WTA Premier week followed by an ATP 500 week, with total prize money in excess of $5 million.