The Dubai Tennis Championships’ position as one of the region’s premier sporting events has been further underlined following the announcement world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne and Russian superstar Maria Sharapova will return to the award winning tournament.
The confirmation of the top two women’s players in the world has set up a possible re-match between the two heavyweights who squared off in last year’s thrilling Dubai Duty Free Women’s final.
Henin-Hardenne eventually took the honours over the big hitting Russian, and is now looking forward to maintaining her unbeaten record when she returns to defend her Dubai title.
The dynamic Belgian has not lost a match in her three previous trips to Dubai, winning the title in 2003, 2004 and 2006.
“I’m glad I’m coming back to Dubai,” said Henin-Hardenne. “It’s a tournament I like a lot. It’s only good memories for me. They’re doing a great job and it’s a good crowd and very nice atmosphere.”
It was Sharapova’s first visit to Dubai last year, and she has been looking forward to making a return visit ever since.
“It’s amazing. It’s such a cool place,” Sharapova said. “It’s very different to anything you expect. It’s really like Disneyworld meets Las Vegas. They take the best things out of the whole world and put them into one city and create this huge magical place.”
Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of tournament organisers Dubai Duty Free, was delighted with the confirmation of top the seeds which follows this week’s earlier announcement that world number one Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will also return for the ATP tournament at the Dubai Tennis Stadium.
“Once again the Dubai Tennis Championships is attracting the biggest names in tennis and we are thrilled that two wonderful players in Justine and Maria are coming back to Dubai,” said McLoughlin.
“Having last year’s finalists lining up again ads to what is always an intriguing tournament and we look forward to seeing if Justine can continue her impressive record in Dubai or if Maria can go one step further and win the title.”
Grand Stand tickets for the 2007 Dubai Tennis Championships, now in its 15th year, will go on sale this Monday (January 15th) at the Dubai Tennis Stadium box office.
Dubai Duty Free has announced they will freeze ticket prices at the same level as the past three years, which means tennis fans can purchase many of the tickets for just Dhs30.
Tickets for Grand Stand seating for the first three days of each tournament are priced Dhs30, moving on to Dhs40 for the quarter-finals, Dhs60 for the semi-finals and Dhs100 for the finals.
For tickets go to www.timeouttickets.com or for further information visit www.dubaitennischampionships.com
Play begins on 19th February with the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event, and continues on 26th February when Spain’s Nadal begins his title defence alongside three-time former champion Federer.
The Dubai Tennis Championships 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.
