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Tennis fever grips Dubai

DUBAI – Tennis fever has hit Dubai as many of the world’s top tennis stars have flown into the Emirate to take part in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Fans have been scrambling to secure tickets for the greatest tennis extravaganza in the Middle East, to watch in person household names they might have only ever seen before on television.

Now fans can get up close to players who have not only set the tennis world on fire but who have graced the pages of countless fashion magazines around the world.

Among those bidding for the title are some of the most glamorous athletes in the sporting world, with pin-ups such as Ana Ivanovic, Daniela Hantuchova and Maria

Kirilenko all ready to take on no less than eight of the world’s top 10 players.

“Tennis players are among the most recognised athletes in the world, and that is especially so for those competing year-round on the WTA Tour,” said Colm McLoughlin, managing director of tournament owners and organisers Dubai Duty Free.

“We are thrilled that so many of them have arrived here over the past few days to take part in one of the most popular tournaments in the world. Fans will not only enjoy the best tennis in the world, but see for themselves and have the opportunity to meet personalities that they might only have seen before in the pages of newspapers and magazines.”

The ‘Glamour Girls’ will face a massive challenge against opponents such as world number one Caroline Wozniacki, top Russian Vera Zvonareva, recent Australian Open runner-up Li Na, French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, Australian number one Samantha Stosur, former world number one and US Open finalist Jelena Jankovic, 2010 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships runner-up Victoria Azarenka and Poland’s top star Agnieszka Radwanska. The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Play begins on February 14 with the WTA Tour event and continues with the ATP tournament from February 21 that includes Australian Open and reigning Dubai champion Novak Djokovic, four-time Dubai winner Roger Federer and Australian Open finalist Andy Murray.