February 16, 2017 – DUBAI, UAE:  With just days to go until the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships extravaganza gets underway, organisers are making sure everything is in place for two weeks of some of the best tennis action in the world on court and an exciting entertainment program in the Tennis Village. With tickets still available the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium will undoubtedly be the place to be for the next fortnight.

Action in the tournament commences one day earlier this year, with the first day’s play on Sunday 19 February. The WTA Tournament this year has Premier 5 status, and as such the draw has been expanded from 32 to 64, meaning even more of the world’s best players will be hitting the courts.

Salah Tahlak, Tournament Director, said “The women’s field this year is spectacular and with tickets for the first three days only 75dhs, tennis fans in Dubai are in for a real treat. In addition entry to the outside courts is free so everyone has the opportunity to see world class players in action”. 

Tennis fans are expected again to flock to the stadium to witness the spectacular matches, as well as enjoying the packed social program which will see Dubai celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Championships in style. As always, the Tennis Village will be buzzing all fortnight with entertainment, music, autograph signings, the big screens showing the action live and a host of other events and activities including Kids’ Days, Ladies’ Night, and plenty of competitions for fans to win those sought after finals tickets.

The tournament will again host the very popular Ladies’ Day on Tuesday 21 February. Ladies are invited to come dressed to impress on Ladies’ Day and enter the fashion parade at 6pm to win great prizes including finals tickets and an invitation to the exclusive Players’ Party where they can meet the tennis stars.  

This year also sees a new exciting competition where fans who take a selfie with the ATP 25th anniversary player cutout in the Tennis Village on quarter-finals day, and post it via Instagram, twitter or Facebook could win the chance to meet the quarter-finals winner and walk back to the Players’ Lounge with them after the match.

Fans can also win the coveted finals tickets in the #DDFSelfie competition. Spectators who take a selfie showing their wristband on the first four days of WTA week and the first three days of ATP week, post it on the tournament’s Instagram or Twitter pages, could be off to the finals! Fans are encouraged to check the tournament website and Facebook page for all the details on ticket competitions to be amongst the lucky winners. 

Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of tournament owners and organizers said: “We are looking forward to another exciting tournament this year as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the tennis and in particular the ATP week which began in 1993. 

“With just a couple of days to go until the start of the WTA week we are all set for an even bigger and better schedule of activities in the village for all to enjoy. The number of opportunities to interact with the players means that everyone will have the chance to meet some of their favourite stars and we are delighted to be welcoming the top players back again, and with so much happening in the village over the fortnight the atmosphere this year will be wonderful”.

Other competitions to win finals tickets are running on ARN radio, and during the tournament spectators in the grandstand can play “Catch and Win” as tennis balls are hit into the crowd before the evening matches. Every ball caught can be redeemed at the Dubai Duty Free Stand for great prizes from the sponsors, and one lucky person who catches the silver ball will enjoy hospitality in the VIP section for the evening.

There will also be opportunities for fans to see and get autographs from their favourite players on Sunday 19 February at 11am and Monday 20 February at 10.30am and Monday 27 February at 1.00pm at the Dubai Duty Free Shop in the Tennis Village. And in one of the features which makes the Dubai tournament unique, the players will walk through the village each day on their way to and from the courts, giving fans a chance for a photograph or autograph with their tennis idols.

Play in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships begins with the WTA event, which takes place between 19th and 25th  February. Among those also bidding for the title will be US Open champion and world number two Angelique Kerber, 2017 Brisbane champion Karolina Pliskova, WTA Finals winner Dominika Cibulkova, world number six and former Dubai champion Agnieszka Radwanska, French Open champion Garbine Muguruza, and recent Sydney winner Johanna Konta.

Play then continues between 27th  February and 4th March, with the action-packed ATP tournament featuring world number one Andy Murray; Australian Open champion and seven-time Dubai winner Roger Federer; Dubai defending champion, winner of three Grand Slams and world number three Stan Wawrinka; two time Dubai finalist Tomas Berdych and the entertaining world number nine Gael Monfils.

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

Tickets for every day of the event including the finals are still available from the Box Office at the Dubai Tennis Stadium, Garhoud which opens from 9am to 9pm daily.