Tennis: Almarzooqi inspired by tips from Nadal

Ali Saleh Almarzooqi during practice.

Emirati tennis player and Mubadala Community Cup winner Ali Saleh Almarzooqi is making good on the tips offered to him by his idol Rafael Nadal. Almarzooqi is part of the 'Mubadala Tennis in Schools' programme that is providing free coaching to kids at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
Winning the 2014 Mubadala Community Cup, saw Almarzooqi land himself an opportunity to play a tennis star at a clinic. "There was a draw with Nadal, Feliciano Lopez and Stan Wawrinka. Luckily I got to play Nadal." 
"I have attended three clinics with Nadal. The first one in 2009 was the best. It was a surprise planned by my Country Club coach. We two players were asked to come to the Centre Court at the Zayed Sports City. On reaching there I saw Nadal and Roger Federer there. It was a dream come true to see both the legends together," the 17-year-old said.
"Nadal jokingly said that my serve was better than his. Federer too said he was amazed by the way I played. That was the best moment ever." "Then I had clinics with Nadal in 2012 and 2014."
On the tips offered by the World No. 4, he said: "He told me to just have fun on the court. Not to be nervous as tennis is more of a mental game. He said that instead of focusing on winning every time, I should try and enjoy each game, and once I do that I will start getting positive results."
The tips, he said, have improved his game.
On his journey so far, he said: "I started playing from age 10. I fell in love with the game after watching the Nadal-Federer match at the 2006 Dubai Duty Free Championship. I follow Nadal's style but unlike him I am right-handed though my preferred surface is clay," he said.
An Emirati in love with clay surface? And he soon clarified: "I played in Serbia and Germany and liked it. Clay court suits my game as the ball comes slow so I get time to slide and smash. Even though I have got injured playing on clay, I liked that over hard court and grass," he said.
On his future plans, he said: "I am working my way into the ITF tournaments. But then education is more important," he added.