Plenty of Entertainment Both On and Off the Court at Dubai Tennis Championships

- Kid’s Days and Tennis Village adds to award-winning event -

Dubai, UAE, February 18th, 2007: The Dubai Tennis Championships will offer more than just two weeks of memorable tennis when play gets underway from tomorrow (Monday, February 19th).

Away from all the action on centre court, tennis fans can look forward to plenty of entertainment in the new and improved tennis village, and children from across the region will have the chance to rub shoulders with the sport’s top players.

This year’s tennis village has doubled in size and tennis fans have the chance to enjoy sponsor competitions, purchase merchandise and generally soak up the unique atmosphere around the region’s showpiece tennis event.

There will also be entertainment ranging from fire blowers and stilt walkers to jugglers and living statues on the final three days of the Dubai Duty Free Women’s and Men’s Opens.

The championships have for many years been committed to grassroots tennis and this year will be no exception. The tournament has an ongoing programme of competitions and clinics for schools and tennis academies which provide children with an introduction to the game whilst also providing the opportunity to meet with and learn from the competing tennis stars.

Dugas, a long-term sponsor of the Dubai Tennis Championships, is again hosting its annual Kid’s Days. Nearly 2,000 children from 25 schools around the region will take part in the tennis sessions which will also include the tournament’s 180 ball kids and international players from the WTA and ATP tournaments.

The Tennis Emirates Clinic is an annual feature of the Dubai Tennis Championships and is designed to find and nurture local talent amongst the region’s young up and coming players. Players are invited to take part in the clinic where they will receive coaching from the Federation with added inspiration from international players from the WTA and ATP who are invited to lend a hand with skills and drills.

And each year Lacoste shows its support of the tournament with the Lacoste tennis clinic. Students from Al Noor Training Centre for Special Needs, Dubai Centre for Special Needs and Rashid Pediatric Therapy Centre are invited to the clinic to enjoy a fun and interactive tennis experience with the help of two Lacoste-sponsored international players.

Added to this, over 25 schools from across the region have participated in the tournament’s ‘spot the difference’ and the ‘ultimate tennis trainer’ competitions.

“Introducing the game of tennis to local youngsters is an important focus of the Dubai Tennis Championships and we are delighted with the interest and popularity of these events each year,” said Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of tournament organisers Dubai Duty Free.

“Tennis fans will have some wonderful opportunities to really soak up and enjoy many different aspects of what will be a fantastic two weeks ahead.”

The international players won’t be the only ones to play on centre court either. The 180 ball kids from the Clark Francis Tennis Academy will take part in the annual Bounce-a-thon to raise money for the Dubai Duty Free Foundation. The ball kids are sponsored to keep balls bouncing continuously for 45 minutes, and will be joined by international players from the WTA tournament. The ball kids have also taken part in their own tournaments to win an opportunity to play a tie-break match with their tennis heroes on centre court during the men’s and women’s opens.

And for all the tennis fanatics out there the Aces Fan Club (www.acesme.com) is the championship’s own link to the community. Members enjoy free entry into the opening rounds of the Dubai Tennis Championships as well as regular updates and exclusive competitions to win merchandise and meet their tennis heroes.

Play begins at the Dubai Tennis Stadium on 19th February with Justine Henin, Amelie Mauresmo and Martina Hingis headlining the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event, and continues on 26th February when Spain’s Rafael Nadal begins his title defence alongside three-time former champion Roger Federer, Marcos Baghdatis and teenage star Novak Djokovic.

The Dubai Tennis Championships is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free and takes place under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

For further information: John Rynehart, Promoseven Sports Marketing,
(T) +9714 3210008; (M) +971 50 55 96795; john.rynehart@promoseven.com