HOT SHOT IN THE HOUSE

Stefan Bojic, the freestyle tennis pioneer, returns to MWTC to entertain fans with his spectacular trick shots

The 13th Mubadala World Tennis Championship (MWTC) has a lot on offer for tennis enthusiasts: an amazing line-up of prolific and upcoming pro tennis stars, a platform for the country’s most talented amateur players, tennis clinics and the Tennis Village. Tennis fans will also see Stefan Bojic, considered the world’s first and most popular tennis trick-shotter, return to MWTC.

Bojic, who has more than 152,000 followers on Instagram and over 168,800 followers on TikTok, has made a name for himself in the world of tennis. He has been featured in commercials for leading sports brands, performed in front of tennis greats Maria Sharapova and Novak Djokovic and travelled all over the world to showcase his unique skills.

Bojic, who was born in Serbia, played competitive tennis in his earlier days. He won the Serbian Under 16 national championships before moving to New York, where he played for St. John’s College.

In 2014, Bojic began experimenting with freestyle tennis as a way to reignite his passion for the sport and enjoy its less competitive, but more “fun” side. He said: “It all started with me wanting to explore what can be done with a tennis racket and ball besides just playing tennis as a sport.

“I pride myself on being the person who started freestyle tennis. I did not invent all of the tricks, but I made them presentable, interesting and exciting. I believe there’s huge potential for freestyle tennis to come into its own and be recognised all over the world.”

Bojic is happy to be returning to MWTC because he loves the championship’s amazing atmosphere. He said: “The tournament has an amazing lineup every year, and this year’s is one of the best I’ve seen so far.”

Bojic is also excited about interacting with the players and fans so closely. “There are only few matches held a day and regardless of the match you attend, you know you’ll be seeing top-ranked players. The tennis stars are also there for their fans. The setting is a lot more personal, and that is what’s amazing about MWTC. Of course, the weather’s nice in December, so you can’t go wrong with that.”

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50 Years in the Making

The UAE’s 50th anniversary highlights the country’s phenomenal growth across all sectors of the economy, including the field of sports

The UAE recently celebrated its 50th National Day, marking five decades of its success and growth since the country’s founding fathers came together to consolidate the union of the seven emirates on 2 December 1971. Since then, the country’s achievements in every field, including building state-of the-art sports infrastructure, has helped raise its profile as a global hub for innovation and excellence. The country’s visionary leaders have strategically promoted sports among other sectors, as part of their plan to diversify the UAE’s economy.

Today, the UAE, and in particular Abu Dhabi, is home to world-class facilities and venues, hosting local, regional and international events that welcome both elite athletes and grassroots participation. More than 30 sports federations also contribute to furthering the popularity of sports in the country.

These efforts have resulted in global recognition, with Abu Dhabi being named 'The World’s Leading Sports Tourism Destination' at the World Travel Awards in 2019 and 2021. The UAE’s capital has been hosting international events such as the Mubadala World Tennis Championships, Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship and FINA World Swimming Championships among others. It has also staged one of the largest and most successful World Games in the history of the Special Olympics in 2019.

Other international sporting events that have put the UAE on the global sporting map include the Dubai World Cup, DP World Tour Championship, HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The UAE is also looking at furthering its own sports ambitions in the coming decades. The country’s General Sports Authority is looking at consolidating important initiatives and programmes within its proposed Sports Sector 2032 Strategy. The ambitious national vision aims to build a distinguished sports community capable of achieving global achievements. The strategy includes 54 initiatives aimed at promoting three areas: community sports, competitive sports and the sports system.