Dubai Tennis Championships 2008

[shawarma]

Dubai Tennis Open - information on Dubai FAQ

• What? The Dubai Tennis Championship is world class tennis matches on hard courts, part of the WTA Tour (Women's Tennis Association) and the ATP Tour (Association of Tennis Professionals) with many of the best tennis players in the world attending. Cheap tickets for watching top quality tennis in great weather. Bring suncream and a hat.
• Where? Dubai Tennis Stadium at the Aviation Club in Garhood (on the Deira side of the Garhoud Bridge).
• When?
  Women play Monday 25 February - Saturday 01 March 2008
  Men play Monday 03 - Saturday 08 Mar 2008
  Match times are usually from mid-afternoon (2 pm) till mid-evening (when last match finishes). Dubai newspapers should have a daily schedule each morning.
• How much? 30-150 dhs daily depending on the day, for Grandstand seating, 50-200 dhs per day for Prime B and 60-250 dhs per day for Prime A (best chance of catching a tennis ball in your gob).
• Tickets from where? The Dubai Tennis Stadium ticket office in Garhoud, or tel Time Out Tickets 800-4669 (in UAE) or +971-4-2108567. Tickets available after 13 January 2008 (and will probably sell out quickly for the final days).
• Organisers? Dubai Duty Free (DDF)
• Main Sponsors? Dubai Duty Free, Barclays (from 2008-2010 at least)
• Contact? Tel Dubai Duty Free on +971-4-2162436 (not for tickets)
• Website? www.dubaitennischampionships.com

Anything else?

Dubai Tennis Championship Tournament Director is Salah Tahlak.
Prize money of US$1.5 million for each of the men's and women's tournament in 2007
About 150+ ball boys and girls will be needed. Check with Dubai Tennis website for how to apply (no information at the time of this posting), or ask your school PE teacher if s/he knows anything. It is advisable not to nick the players' tennis rackets should you become one of the exalted ball collectors.

[shawarma]

Some information in the press today about players attending the Dubai Tennis Championships this year. The line up will include 9 of top 10 women tennis players, and 8 of top 10 men tennis players. List (not a complete list) with country and ranking (DubaiFAQs.com page has more complete list).

Edit: Updated with complete list (removed from Dubai FAQ page)

Player line up 2008 Dubai Women's Tennis Tournament

Edit: Winner was Elena Dementieva, runner up Svetlana Kuznetsova

Justine Henin, Belgium, 1
Svetlana Kuznetsova, Russia, 2
Jelena Jankovic, Serbia, 3
Ana Ivanovic, Serbia, 4
Maria Sharapova, Russia, 5 (withdrew 26 February 2008)
Anna Chakvetadze, Russia, 6
Serena Williams, USA, 7 (withdrew)
Daniela Hantuchova Slovakia, 9
Marion Bartoli, France, 10
Elena Dementieva, Russia, 11
Nicole Vaidisova, Czech Republic, 12
Nadia Petrova, Russia, 14
Patty Schnyder, Switzerland, 15
Dinara Safina, Russia, 16
Amelie Mauresmo, France, 18
Sybille Bammer, Austria, 19
Sania Mirza, India, 31

Player line up 2008 Dubai Men's Tennis Tournament

Edit: Winner was Andy Roddick, beating Feliciano Lopez in the final

Roger Federer, Switzerland, 1
Rafael Nadal, Spain, 2
Novak Djokovic, Serbia, 3
Nikolay Davydenko, Russia, 4
Andy Roddick, USA, 6
Richard Gasquet France 8
Andy Murray, Great Britain, 9
Tommy Robredo, Spain, 11
Mikhail Youzhny, Russia, 15
Marat Safin, Russia, 57

[shawarma]

Reuters reported today that Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the 2008 Dubai Tennis Championship due to a viral infection. She was due to play her first match tonight. Here's what she said ...

"Unfortunately I have been battling a virus for several days and it's reached a point where I'm unable to compete," the world number five said in a statement on Tuesday.

There was also a report that Serena Williams withdrew in the weekend before - also due to a virus.