Dubai: Sam Arnold, a journeyman Australian tennis player in his late 30s, is by no means a Lance Armstrong.

However, there is a common thread which binds this resident of Adelaide and the seven-time Tour de France winner - both have survived a close brush with death in cancer and want to live life on their own terms.

Arnold, who had undergone a bone marrow transplant after he diagnosed with with B-cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma two years back, runs his own tennis academies in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore and now wants to open his fourth one in Dubai.

"My father and sister had been living and working there for the past eight years and they have told me of the great business potential there.

"I believe Dubai would be an ideal location for my fourth international academy for many reasons," a candid Arnold told Gulf News via e-mail.

Now preparing for a 'comeback' in the Outback Champions Tennis Tour in Australia - where he was a regular alongwith famous names like Jim Courier, Mats Wilander and Pat Cash - the former Tour professional had a chance meeting with Armstrong only last week.

"Armstrong's story had always been a great motivation for me even when I was down and out.

"When the cycling legend visited Adelaide as the first step on his comeback trail, he invited me over for breakfast.

"We spoke briefly about our own experiences in beating cancer," recalled Arnold.

While his family already has a footing here with his father John running a packaging business, Arnold is quite upfront about his intention to add Dubai on the list of Sam Arnold Tennis Academies (SATA).

"I am aware of the number of tourists visiting the city on a yearly basis, the fantastic weather and the quality of sports facilities being built," he explained.

Following a moderate tennis career, Arnold had settled down to a tennis entrepreneur's role fine - starting his flagship academy in Tokyo in 1999 (the busiest according to him with over 500 active members), followed by Hong Kong in 2003 and Singapore two years later.

While travelling through Macau some two years back, Arnold suddenly collapsed in the airport, cutting open a deep gash in his head.

"I was rushed to the hospital and subsequently returned to Australia for a thorough check-up.

"After my lung was drained of the fluid, the blood tests and PET scans revealed the nature of my cancer.

"I've had to endure many needles, blood transfusions and finally a bone marrow transplant, but now I am recovering fine," says a spirited and determined Arnold.

Has he ever been in touch with Corina Morariu, the other great cancer survivor in tennis?

"Unfortunately, I have not been able to meet with her, due to the time spent in the hospital having extensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.

"I hope to meet her in the near future," replied Arnold.