Dubai Tennis: ATP players party hard
The world’s best tennis players took some time out for fun and relaxation last night during the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships at the ATP Players’ Party.
Players mingled with dignitaries and guests and enjoyed the entertainment, which included a performance by a Whitney Houston tribute act, Martina the belly-dancer, Philippe the magician and locally themed attractions.
Colm-McLoughlin-and-Andy-Murray
Ventzi-Miknas,-Toni,-Tarek-Miknas,-Andy-Murray,-Sinead-El-Sibai
Whitney-Tribute-Act
Breeda-McLoughlin,-Novak-Djokovic,-Colm-McLoughlin
Salah-Tahlak-with-Roger-Federer
Philippe-the-Magician
Ester-Satarova-and-Tomas-Berdych
Alison-Lee---ATP,-Salah-Tahlak,-Chris-Kermode---ATP
Novak-Djokovic-with-entertainer
Martina-the-Belly-Dancer-with-Andy-Murray
Feliciano Lopez warmed up for his first match in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships yesterday with a spin in the Audi simulator in the Tennis Village, before taking a closer look at the Audis on display, including the superb A7 50 TFSI Quattro.
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Top seed Simona Halep will play rising star Karolina Pliskova in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Saturday.
Halep turned around her match after dropping the opening set and defeated former champion Caroline Wozniacki 2-6 6-1 6-1, while Pliskova came through a marathon that lasted just seven minutes under three hours with a 6-4 5-7 7-5 victory over Garbine Muguruza.
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Agnieszka Radwanska and Caroline Wozniacki both struggled to win their opening matches.
Radwanska survived a sickness scare to defeat Caroline Garcia 6-3 2-6 6-3, and Wozniacki eventually overcame a resilient Samantha Stosur 4-6 6-1 7-5 after receiving treatment for a knee ailment.
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Flavia Pennetta also came through a tough match, fighting off four match points to overcome a gallant challenge by former finalist Julia Goerges and win 2-6 7-6(3) 6-4.
Kvitova, the 2013 Dubai champion, met the Managing Director of the SMCCU Nasif Kayed, who shared some information about Emirati culture.
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Tournament second seed said “Dubai is one of my favourite destinations for sure. I have won here, and have been here for vacation, so it’s always nice to come here. I feel well, I’ve had a good start to the year, I won a trophy already, so I will try to win another.
Petra also enjoyed traditional Arabic coffee and dates, “I like the dates, they’re very sweet. The Arabic coffee is different, I’m glad I tried it.”
Action in the WTA Tournament begins today, Sunday 15 February, and features defending champion Venus Williams, Petra Kvitova, French Open and WTA Finals runner-up Simona Halep, former Dubai winners Agnieszka Radwanska and Caroline Wozniacki, Brisbane runner-up Ana Ivanovic, Australian Open semi-finalist Ekaterina Makarova and recent Sydney semi-finalist Angelique Kerber. Tickets are still available for every day from the box office.