Dubai: 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli will be the star attraction as Dubai targets an official attempt at the Guinness World Records for most players in a tennis exhibition match in mid-November.
In a live address at a press conference yesterday from France, Bartoli termed her unique venture at the Grand Hyatt Dubai on November 13-14 as “an amazing moment for tennis”. The 30-year-old Bartoli will participate in a charity dinner and breakfast while also lending a helping hand in separate clinics for adults and kids on both days of the event.
As per the tentative programme over the two days, the Guinness World Records attempt will commence at 1pm on November 13 and go on till 1pm the following day. The tennis marathon will be open for six UAE corporates with each team fielding 12 players. The six participating teams will be finalised and declared at a separate press conference on October 19.
Each team will play the other five with the side winning the most games being declared the champion at the end of 24 hours. “Bartoli will be the 73rd player on the list as she will be involved with cameo roles during the course of the tennis marathon,” Vipin Sharma, Managing Director, Veracity World related at a press conference.
“This event will not just be a platform for players from the UAE to showcase their skills, but also act as an ideal outing for the entire family,” he added.
Strath Sherriff, Managing Director, Sherriff International Sports Management (SISM), felt that an event of this stature will take tennis to the next logical level. “Two of the best tournaments on the ATP and WTA tours are held in Dubai. In addition, we have the new ones like Mubadala Tennis Championships. I feel this attempt of having so many players involved in an exhibition match will only further alleviate the position of tennis in the UAE,” Sherriff noted.
“This event will be a unique moment for our players in the UAE as they can meet and play against a Grand Slam champion of the stature of Bartoli. Besides that there will be plenty of opportunities for the avid tennis fans to interact with the French champion,” he added. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), Pepsi and Channel 4 are the sponsors.
