Business Voice April 2020 - Issue 39

Pursue your passion with the Mubadala Excellence Program

The Mubadala Excellence Program supports talented individuals from across the UAE seeking to pursue and realize their biggest dreams. The program has supported local talents in sports, arts and culture and more, and is looking for gifted individuals to support on their journey to greatness.

To date, we have supported triathlete Faris Al Zaabi; national fencers Khalifa Al Zarouni and Noora Al Breiki; sailor Hamza Al Ali, and many more.

Do you want to make an impact on the community and enhance your talents? Sign up for the Program, which is open to UAE residents of all ages and nationalities.

To find out more, scan the code here.

UMPIRES

MALE PLAYER FIELD

Carlos Alcaraz - Spain

Andrey Rublev - Russia

Casper Ruud - Norway

Stefanos Tsitsipas - Greece

Frances Tiafoe - USA

Cameron Norrie - United Kingdom

FEMALE PLAYER FIELD

Ons Jabeur - Tunisia

Emma Raducanu - United Kingdom

MATCH FORMAT

The format includes a 6-man player draw, single elimination series of matches with the final match featuring the remaining two best players. A 3rd and 4th place match will precede the final. The top two seeded players will receive a Bye to day 1 matches. All elimination matches and the final will be played best of 3 sets, regular ATP World Tour scoring.The 3rd place and 5th place matches will be played best of 3 sets with a super tiebreak to 10 points determining the 3rd set. The opening day includes a ladies’ match, with a third set super tiebreak.

WELCOME TO ABU DHABI

Mubadala is delighted to sponsor the Mubadala World Tennis Championship for another exciting year. This year’s tournament will see world-class tennis talents join us in Abu Dhabi as we celebrate 14 years of passion and dedication to the sport at Zayed Sports City. As a responsible investor, Mubadala has built a long-standing legacy in our support for tennis, raising awareness for the importance of the sport and its impact in local and global communities. We are committed to promoting a healthy lifestyle and wellness across the nation and continue to champion initiatives like the Mubadala Tennis in Schools program. We achieve this with the support of our partners, Zayed Sports City and the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, as we collectively foster young champions. We are delighted to sponsor this event where tennis enthusiasts of all ages come together to celebrate their love, passion and dedication for this incredible sport. On behalf of Mubadala, I wish this year’s participants the best of luck. Thank you and enjoy the Mubadala World Tennis Championship.

Al Mubarak, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of Mubadala

Khaldoon

4pm: Men’s QF1

Stefanos Tsitsipas v Cameron Norrie

6pm: Men’s QF2

Andrey Rublev v Frances Tiafoe

8pm: Women’s Match

Ons Jabeur v Emma Raducanu

3pm: 5th Place Play-Off

5pm: Men’s SF1

Casper Ruud v Stefanos Tsitsipas or Cameron Norrie

7pm: Men’s SF2 Carlos Alcaraz v Andrey Rublev or Frances Tiafoe

1pm: 3rd Place Play-Off

3pm: Men’s Championship Match Post Match Trophy Ceremony

MWTC 2021 RECAP

Key highlights from last year’s Championship.

The Mubadala World Tennis Championship (MWTC) 2021 returned to the International Tennis Centre at Zayed Sports City after a one-year hiatus due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hosted from 16 -18 December 2021, the 13th edition of the event also coincided with the golden jubilee of the UAE.

Featuring some of the world’s top-seeded players, Russian world number 5 Andrey Rublev lifted the MWTC 2021 trophy defeating Andy Murray in straight sets. Last year’s event also made history with Ons Jabeur being the first Arab to play in the Championship. She went on to defeat Olympic Gold medallist Belinda Bencic in a thrilling playoff in the Ladies’ exhibition match held on opening day. The star player line-up included record five-time defending champion Rafael Nadal; multi-Grand Slam Champion Andy Murray; Canadian world number 14 Denis Shapovalov; 23rd-ranked American Taylor Fritz, and British world number 25 Dan Evans.

Thanks to strict adherence to health and safety guidelines, MWTC players and guests were able to enjoy the Championship’s world-class tennis action and Abu Dhabi’s distinct blend of hospitality and culture uninhibited.

Investing today for a prosperous tomorrow

Mubadala is a responsible investor, driven by our commitment to our investments, partnerships and sponsorships that make a lasting and positive impact on communities. We focus on local, homegrown industries, from pioneering investments in renewable energy to key sectors including manufacturing, healthcare and innovation. We prioritize these areas which aim to support the UAE's future growth and economic diversification.

To learn more about Mubadala, please visit the Mubadala Pavilion at MWTC Village. You can also participate in exciting activities, such as a virtual cycling experience with Emirati Paralympians, playing football with Al Jazira Club or racing against triathlete Faris Al Zaabi. Participants will also have the fantastic opportunity to work on their serves with world-class tennis coaches.

MUBADALA COMMUNITY CUP WINNER RECEIVES TENNIS SCHOLARSHIP

UAE-based youth Anurag Reddy, whose game evolved courtesy of the MCC, was awarded a tennis scholarship by a US university.

The Mubadala Tennis in Schools (MTiS) programme, an inspirational community initiative championed by Mubadala to grow grassroots tennis in the UAE, has paved the way for several young and upcoming tennis talents. Local schoolboy Anurag Reddy was just eight when he was introduced to tennis as part of MTiS – little did he know that, together with the Mubadala Community Cup (MCC), it would change the course of his life.

The MTiS programme proved so enjoyable for Reddy that he spent more time practising the game at home and honing his skills. Soon after, he competed in his first MCC and would go on to win it numerous times. Reddy is just one of the thousands of aspiring tennis stars who have participated in the MCC since its inaugural event in 2009. The tournament has served to gauge each player’s level against other amateurs in the region – and for some such as Reddy, it has proved to be a launch pad.

Born in India but raised in the UAE, Reddy was initially coached by Australian Sergio Gaoni, a former ATP professional. He participated in – and won – his first MCC, returning annually to rack up a series of successes. Now 19 and having graduated from school, he traveled to the United States earlier this year after receiving a tennis scholarship from McKendree University in Illinois.

As a freshman, he has already competed for his new university at Regional Championships and is preparing for several upcoming tournaments later this academic year. Coaches in the Emirates and stateside believe he can become professional if he maintains his development, work ethic, and commitment to the game.

As far as inspirational tales go, Reddy’s journey from being handed a racquet at school and competing in the MCC to receiving a scholarship in the United States takes some beating. Yet it is also precisely what Mubadala hoped for when creating the programme 14 years ago.

ELEVATING OFF-COURT EXCITEMENT

The Tennis Village returns with an array of activities and entertainment.

Celebrating its 14th edition this year, the Mubadala World Tennis Championship is set to be one of the most sought-after attractions this winter. In addition to a stellar player line-up, the tournament’s Tennis Village promises to offer spectators with an outstanding lifestyle experience and unrivalled access to players off the court. The three-day family-friendly event will provide a well-rounded experience for all ticket holders.

Going beyond tennis, the Tennis Village will have a range of fun and interactive activities including, Kids Zone activities, Q&A sessions with the stars, a range of food trucks and special F&B tents.

The Tennis Village will also feature regulars such as star player clinics and player practice sessions, sponsor activations, children’s activities and entertainment, merchandise, retail outlets, a tennis freestyler on the village stage, and the famed Mubadala Community Cup (MCC) Playoff Matches, which take place on the outer courts.

MWTC APP

News, updates and all the excitement from the tournament are now at your fingertips. In 2021, Mubadala World Tennis Championship (MWTC) brought the tournament to the fans’ fingertips with the official Championship App. Tennis lovers now have access to all the important information from the event at a single touch including order of play, event schedule, and the event programme guide. The app allows users to win prizes from MWTC’s star players in interactive games too!

Creating daring spacial and lighting experiences. lasvit.com

AN EMBODIMENT OF SPEED AND COURAGE

This year’s Championship’s trophies are exquisite works of art inspired by the UAE’s values.

Crafted by Czech design house Lasvit, the 2022 Mubadala World Championship (MWTC) trophies are inspired by the UAE’s national bird, the falcon, which symbolises valour and heritage. Falcons are highly regarded in Emirati society in recognition of the pivotal role they played in the past, aiding Bedouins in hunting in the desert.

This year’s trophies embody the connection between falcons, the fastest birds in the world, and world-class tennis players. Designer Martin Gallo captures the beautiful swift movements of falcons and star athletes in his exquisite ‘Speed Trophy’. Showcasing the sequential movements of the falcon’s wing during flight, the trophy is also an abstract representation of a serving tennis player.

ACHIEVEMENTS

• At the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, Jabeur became the first Arab – and first African – to reach a Grand Slam final

• The Tunisian’s performance at Wimbledon saw her reach a career-high World No.2 in the official WTA rankings

• Just months later in September 2022, she replicated her Wimbledon feat to reach the final of the US Open

• Jabeur was the first Arab female to win a WTA Tour title with victory at the 2021 Birmingham Classic

• At the 2020 Australian Open, Jabeur became the first Arab woman to reach a major quarter-final

• Jabeur is the first Arab player (male or female) to break into the world’s top 10

• Jabeur is Tunisia’s top-ranked female player, as well as the highest-ranking African or Arab in both ATP and WTA rankings history

• Jabeur has represented Tunisia in the Olympics three times: London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020

• After reaching the third round of the US Open in 2019, Jabeur won the Arab Woman of the Year award in Sport ONS JABEUR AT THE MUBADALA WORLD TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP

• Jabeur won the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in 2021

FUN FACTS

• Jabeur’s mother was a tennis enthusiast and would take her daughter to her local tennis club from the age of three

• Jabeur is fluent in Arabic, English and French. She is also learning Russian from her husband, Karim Kamoun, a Russian-Tunisian former fencer

• Jabeur’s favourite player as a child was American big-hitter Andy Roddick

• Jabeur enjoys playing tennis on all surfaces, but prefers grass

• Jabeur is a keen footballer and an avid fan of Spanish giants Real Madrid

• Jabeur’s nickname is The Minister of Happiness

• Tunisia has a postal stamp in honour of Jabeur

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Emma Raducanu won the 2021 US Open title becoming the first Briton to win a women’s Grand Slam singles title since Virginia Wade at the 1977 Wimbledon Championships

• Born in Toronto, she was the first player to win the US Open women’s singles title without dropping a set since Serena Williams in 2014

• Ranked World No.150 at the start of the 2021 US Open, Raducanu rose to No. 22 following her historic victory

• Victory at the US Open in 2021 saw her become the sport’s top-ranked British female

• At 18, Raducanu became the youngest Grand Slam winner since Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon in 2004

• Raducanu was the first British female winner at Flushing Meadows since Wade in 1968

• During Raducanu’s Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon in 2021, she became the youngest female British player to progress to the last 16 of a Grand Slam in the Open Era

• Raducanu won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2021

FUN FACTS

• Raducanu began hitting balls with her father at the age of five

• Raducanu is “quite capable” of speaking Mandarin and watches Taiwanese TV. She is also fluent in Romanian

• If Raducanu was not a tennis player, she would have worked in finance

• Raducanu is a big fan of Formula 1 and Go-Karting

• Raducanu took her A-level examinations just weeks before her US Open adventure, earning an A* in maths and an A in economics

• While on tour, Raducanu always carries a disposable camera and dark chocolate

• Raducanu holds dual citizenship from Great Britain and Canada

ACHIEVEMENTS

• At the age of 19, Alcaraz is the youngest men’s World No. 1 and the first teenager in the Open Era to top the men’s rankings

• His victory at the US Open in September 2022 saw him become the youngest Grand Slam men’s champion since his idol Rafael Nadal at the 2005 French Open

• Alcaraz broke into the Top 5 in July 2022 at the age of 19 (youngest since 2005), into Top 10 at the age of 18 in April 2022 (youngest since 2005) and Top 20 at the age of 18 in February 2022 (youngest since 1993)

• Alcaraz became the youngest ATP Tour champion since 2008 in Umag, Croatia, in 2021, and the youngest ATP 500 champion in history (Rio de Janeiro, 2022)

• He became the third-youngest champion at any ATP Masters 1000 series event and the second-youngest player to win two (2022 Miami, 2022 Madrid)

• Alcaraz is the youngest player to beat both Nadal and Djokovic – and the first to do so at the same clay court event. He beat them on back-to-back days on route to the 2022 Madrid title

• Alcaraz advanced to the Grand Slam quarterfinals at the 2021 US Open and 2022 French Open becoming the youngest men’s quarter-finalist at a US Open in the Open Era and at any Grand Slam since Michael Chang in 1990

FUN FACTS

• Alcaraz acquired his tennis skills in a training facility run by his father

• Former World No. 1, Juan Carlos Ferrero, is Alcaraz’s coach

• Prior to every match, Alcaraz has been known to sleep and play chess as part of his routine

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Rublev broke into the Top 20 in January 2020, Top 10 in October 2020 and Top 5 in September 2021

• In 2021, defeated No.3 Rafael Nadal in Monte Carlo and No.2 Daniil Medvedev in Cincinnati on route to ATP Masters 1000 finals, then beat No.1 Novak Djokovic in Belgrade this year for an 11th ATP Tour title

• Rublev helped his country win the 2021 ATP Cup and earned a gold medal in the mixed doubles final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics alongside Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

• He advanced to Grand Slam quarter finals at the 2017, 2020 and 2022 US Open, the 2020 and 2022 French Open, and the 2021 Australian Open

• He was named ATP’s Most Improved Player of the Year in 2020 after jumping from No.23 to No.8 in the world

• Rublev achieved a career-high doubles ranking of No. 53 in August 2022

AT MWTC

• Rublev is the reigning champion in Abu Dhabi after beating Andy Murray in straight sets in the 2021 final

• In 2019, Rublev lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the men’s quarter-final

• Rublev made his Mubadala World Tennis Championship debut in 2017

FUN FACTS

• His nickname is Rubl

•

He began playing tennis at age three and would often sleep with his racquet

• He speaks English, Russian and Spanish

• His idols growing up were Marat Safin and Rafael Nadal, whom he first met in 2014 at Guillermo Vilas Academy in Mallorca

• His favourite shot is forehand

•

His hobbies include boxing, basketball, and music

• He supports NBA team the Golden State Warriors

• Father Andrey is a former boxer; mother Marina is a tennis coach. His sister Arina is also a tennis coach

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Casper Ruud is the first Norwegian to break into the ATP Top Five. He is also the first to reach a Grand Slam final, reach an ATP Masters 1000 final and win an ATP title

• Ruud reached the final of the French Open this year, losing to his idol Rafael Nadal

• He quickly reached a second Grand Slam final, progressing to the title match at the US Open in September 2022

• A former World No.1 junior, Ruud achieved his career-high professional ranking of World No.2 after reaching the final at Flushing Meadows

• In 2021, he became the first player in a decade to win three titles in as many weeks when he triumphed at the Generali Open in Kitzbühel, Nordea Open in Bastad, and the Swiss Open Gstaad

• Before reaching the French Open final in June, Ruud’s biggest career win came against Mischa Zverek in the semi-final of the ATP Masters 1000 Miami

•

This year, Ruud has won three titles, defending his Swiss Open Gstaad and Gonet Geneva Open titles and reclaiming the Argentina Open title that he won in 2020

• Ruud also this year reached Masters 1000 semi-finals in Rome and Montreal

FUN FACTS

• Tennis is in his DNA: His father Christian was a Top 50 professional tennis player and reached a career-high World No.39 in 1995

• Ruud was a huge fan of Rafael Nadal as a child, and has been training at the Rafa Nadal Academy since 2018

• In 2018, Ruud switched coach. After four years working with Spain’s Pedro Rico, he returned to being coached by his father

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Tsitsipas is the top-ranked Greek player of all time and achieved a career-high No. 3 in August 2021

• Tsitsipas is a five-time Grand Slam semi-finalist and became Greece’s first Grand Slam finalist at the 2021 French Open

• Aged 22 at Roland Garros, Tsitsipas became the youngest Grand Slam finalist since Andy Murray in 2010

• In 2018, Tsitsipas won the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals title. A year later, he won the Nitto ATP Finals title becoming the youngest winner since Leyton Hewitt in 2001

• In total, he has won nine ATP Tour titles, including the 2021 and 2022 ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo

• Tsitsipas is the youngest of 29 players to defeat Nadal (2019 Madrid SF), Federer (2019 Australia Open 4R), and Djokovic (2018 Toronto 3R), beating all three before turning 21

• Tsitsipas was named Greek Male Athlete of the Year for 2019

AT MWTC

• Tsitsipas took part in the 2019 edition of Mubadala World Tennis Championship, losing to Nadal in the final

FUN FACTS

• He was born into a tennis family with his mother being part of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and his father a prominent tennis coach

• He started playing the sport at the age of three and began taking lessons aged six

• As a child, he would often sleep with his racquet

• He creates video diaries of his travels and is passionate about photography

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Tiafoe reached a career-high ranking of World No.17 in October after beating Miomir Kecmanovic in straight sets on route to the final of this year’s Rakuten Japan Open

• In September’s US Open, Tiafoe reached the final four of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time. In doing so, he became the first American male to contest a semi-final at Flushing Meadows since Andy Roddick in 2006

• Inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, he defeated 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal in the Round of 16 before beating 2021 Mubadala World Tennis Championship winner Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals

• Tiafoe has advanced to the US Open 4R in 2020 through 2022, becoming the first American since Mardy Fish a decade earlier to do so in three consecutive years

• Former World No.2 junior, Tiafoe earned his personal-best 33 victories in 2021

• Tiafoe won his first ATP Tour title as a 20-year-old at Delray Beach in 2018 and remains the youngest American champion since Roddick (19) in Houston in 2002

• As a teenager, Tiafoe won the US Junior National Championship and achieved great success on the ATP Challenger Tour, reaching nine finals and winning four titles

FUN FACTS

• Tiafoe’s father worked as a maintenance man at the Junior Tennis Champions Centre in Maryland, USA. Tennis fever quickly rubbed off on the youngster, who was later accepted in the academy on merit

• At the age of 15, Tiafoe won the 2013 Orange Bowl, the tournament’s youngest boys’ singles championship

• Tiafoe has a twin brother name Franklin, who went on to play tennis at DeMatha Catholic High School and Salisbury University

• Like fellow American Roddick, Tiafoe is also a high-speed hitter off the baseline with his serve reaching in excess of 140mph

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Norrie broke into the Top 10 in April this year and achieved a career-high No.8 in September after beating Holger Rune at the 2022 US Open

• Norrie joined Greg Rusedski, Tim Henman and Andy Murray as only the fourth British male in history to reach the world’s Top 10

• Norrie reached a Grand Slam semi-final for the first time at Wimbledon this year

• Norrie advanced to 10 ATP Tour finals between May 2021 and August 2022. At Indian Wells last year, he became the first British champion in the tournament’s 46-year history

• Norrie’s notable tour victories include defeating Dominic Thiem in 2021 at Lyon; Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals at 2022 Acapulco; and Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals at Cincinnati this year

FUN FACTS

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Born in South Africa to a Scottish father and Welsh mother, Norrie was raised in New Zealand

• Norrie is a fan of Newcastle United

• Norrie represented New Zealand as a junior, but moved to London at the age of 16 and now represents Great Britain

• After turning pro in 2017, Norrie won his debut Davis Cup match just eight months later

• Norrie’s favourite tournament is Wimbledon and his tennis idols include Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal

VOLUNTEERS

An integral part of MWTC, volunteers help steer the event to success.

Thanks to the efforts of our volunteers, each year Mubadala World Tennis Championship (MWTC) gives guests a premium experience. Supporting the tournament in several roles such as Player Clinics support, volunteer team leaders, Tennis Village operations, guest services, gate ushers & wayfinding and announcers, the volunteers’ team works hard to create the perfect event experience for all visitors. Last year, 170 volunteers trained across five respective briefing days to ensure that guests had a memorable day at the Championship.

BALL KIDS

The Mubadala World Tennis Championship’s (MWTC) gives young tennis fans the chance to get directly involved with the tournament as ball kids.

One of the most anticipated aspects of the Championship is the Ball Kids programme. This year, over 70 young tennis fans registered to be part of Zayed

KIDDIE REPORTER ON THE COURT

One lucky child won the opportunity to be the official ‘Kiddie Reporter’ for MWTC 2022

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young tennis enthusiasts and aspiring journalists, Mubadala World Tennis Championship’s (MWTC) Kiddie Reporter gave one child the chance to meet the world’s top-ranked tennis stars, attend post-match press conferences and report live from MWTC.

To pick the winner, MWTC hosted a competition in collaboration with QiDZ, a mobile platform that allows parents to find, plan, and book kid-friendly activities. Children between the ages of 6 and 14 had to submit a video showing their reporting skills as they interviewed friends, family, teachers, or anyone they deemed inspiring and worth a story.

Amina won this year’s competition so keep an eye out for her at MWTC!

ON THE HOMEFRONT

The annual Mubadala Community Cup (MCC) presented by Healthpoint brings together the region’s most talented amateur tennis players.

The MCC is the region’s largest and most popular amateur tennis competition with regional talent converging in the UAE to show off their skills. Held over four weekends in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the Cup gives amateur players from across the region a special platform to demonstrate their skills and compete at Mubadala World Tennis Championship (MWTC) while bringing exciting sporting action to the country’s tennis enthusiasts.

This year’s edition of MCC will host more than 300 aspiring tennis players in a knockout competition in six categories: 10s & Under (Mixed); 12s & Under (Mixed); 14s & Under (Boys & Girls); Ladies Singles; Men’s Singles, and Adults Mixed Doubles.

Winners in each of the MCC competitions will win exciting prizes, including a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to feature in a clinic alongside one of the world’s best players at the Championship.

MWTC ON THE ROAD

MWTC took to the streets of Abu Dhabi bringing tennis to the city’s most popular spots. In 2022, Mubadala World Tennis Championship (MWTC) hosted its first ever roadshow taking tennis to the heart of Abu Dhabi. From 7-15 December, the roadshow toured the emirate’s prominent malls such as Forsan Central Mall, Mushrif Mall and Khalidiyah Mall with entertainment and activities for visitors. The highlight of the nine-day roadshow was the interactive ‘Sling Shot’ game in which visitors used a handheld device to take a selfie, aim and ‘shoot’ the image at the digital screen where it appeared as a tennis ball splash. All participants won exciting prizes.

INTERNATIONAL TENNIS CENTRE, ZAYED SPORTS CITY

The home of world-class tennis. Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City (ZSC) is home to four major sporting facilities designed to host a wide range of sporting, leisure, and entertainment events. The International Tennis Centre at ZSC was inaugurated in 2004 and has hosted the Mubadala World Tennis Championship since then. An ATP-standard facility, it has a spectator capacity of 5,000 and features nine professional tennis courts, including the outdoor stadium court, and accommodates all levels of play – from ATP tennis matches to tennis lessons with the ZSC Academy. The venue also features two 500-seat exhibition courts and an indoor event space spread across 600 square metres.

PROMOTING TENNIS AMONG

THE UAE COMMUNITY

The UAE Tennis Federation actively works to develop local talent to represent the UAE on the local, regional and international levels.

The UAE Tennis Federation is the official governing body of tennis in the United Arab Emirates. The federation is steered by a board of active members led by HH Sheikh Hasher bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, with the primary goal of developing the sport across the seven emirates.

The organisation provides local, regional and international talents with a platform to excel by implementing a talent detection system, developing grassroots junior-level programs, and building new facilities. They also conduct national tournaments that provide participants the opportunity to achieve a national-level ranking via team or individual competitions.

The UAE Tennis Federation organises five circuits in its calendar year. Its UAE Tennis in Schools grassroots initiative, adopted from the ITF is called ITF/UAE ITF Junior Tennis Initiative and involves children Under-10, -9 and -8. The second circuit is the Development Circuit which includes competitions for players Under -12 and -14. The Junior Circuit engages players Under-16 and -18, while the Men’s and Women’s circuits are for those over 18 years old. The fifth circuit is for Veterans (O35) and (O45).

The UAE Tennis Federation has also been running Beach Tennis since 2020 and has hosted BT200, BT50 and BT10 in five ITF tournaments with the participation of some of the world’s best players.

The federation has more than 2150 active users on its website, with 240 coaches and 101 affiliated academies. It is scheduled to organise over 200 UAE official tournaments for the 2023 season and across four emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah) for the first time.

The UAE Tennis Federation also sanctions international events such as the ATP and WTA competitions of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge, and ITF World Tennis Tour W25K. In addition, it is also involved with the world-class Mubadala World Tennis Championship and the ITF Junior World Tennis Tour, including the J3 Junior’s Championship for the first time this year.

AMAZING ABU DHABI

Offering art, culture, five-star lifestyle experiences and thrilling sporting events, Abu Dhabi will leave you amazed.

The UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi is a world-class sporting, cultural and tourism destination, renowned for historic buildings, thrilling attractions, engaging tours and a packed calendar of headline events covering sports, concerts, arts, culture, and more.

Drawing in tourists from around the world, Abu Dhabi offers a host of famous attractions such as Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Presidential palace Qasr al Watan, Qasr Al Hosn fort and more. There’s also an array of unrivalled experiences such as witnessing falcon and Saluki shows, kayaking through mangrove parks, or a safari at Sir Bani Yas Island, one of the region’s largest wildlife reserves.

Indulge in luxury at the city’s palatial hotels and resorts and tuck into gourmet fare at over a dozen restaurants with Michelin-stars, Bib Gourmands, and Michelin-approved chefs. There are also world-class sporting arenas and stadiums, including the International Tennis Centre at Zayed Sports City where the Mubadala World Tennis Championship is being hosted.

UPHOLDING SUSTAINABILITY

MWTC and DGrade collaborate once again to collect and repurpose plastic bottles used during the Championship into environment-friendly clothing.

In alignment with the UAE’s commitment to achieving NetZero by 2050, Mubadala World Tennis Championship (MWTC) is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and being an environmentally friendly sporting event. This year again, MWTC is collaborating with the UAE-based manufacturer of sustainable clothing, DGrade, to contribute to the nation’s environmental goals. DGrade will collect single-use plastic items, such as bottles, at the Championship and facilitate their conversion into yarn to produce clothing. MWTC volunteers and personnel will wear shirts made from DGrade’s Greenspun® yarn which consumes 50 per cent less energy, 20 per cent less water, and emits 55 per cent fewer carbon emissions compared to typical polyester yarn manufacture. Keep an eye out for DGrade bins located around the stadium grounds and give your empty bottles a new lease of life.

Want to do more?

Visit dgrade.com for more information on its products and services to decrease your plastic waste.

Play for every thing. Play for nothing. Play to join. Play to escape. Play to win. Play to learn how to lose. Play to prove Play to improve. Play to show them. Play to show yourself Whatever you play for, however you play. Play inspired.