Dubai: Dubai's Match Point Tennis Academy has reached an exchange agreement with the world famous Pat Cash Tennis Academy for the development of the sport in the region.
The agreement was officially signed between Match Point's Zeeshan Ali and Andy Brothers, who runs the former Wimbledon champion's academy at the Hope Island Resort on the beautiful Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia.
And as part of the agreement, Pat Cash will travel to Dubai and conduct tennis clinics for players, while also conducting an exchange programme between the two academies.
"This is a positive step for the sport in the UAE and the region," Zeeshan Ali told Gulf News following his return from Australia.
"The dates for the Pat Cash clinics are yet to be finalised. But in all probability it will be some time in February closer to the Dubai Tennis Championships," Zeeshan Ali stated.
Zeeshan Ali, a former player with the Indian Davis Cup squad, has been in Dubai for the past 10 years. He was brought in to the UAE by the Al Maktoum Family to improve the standard of the game here.
Eventually, Zeeshan Ali moved out from coaching members of the national team to set up the Match Point Tennis Academy in Deira.
Cash will be accompanied on the Dubai trip by the Hong Kong-based Brothers and at least two hand-picked coaches. The panel of five Match Point coaches, all of whom are either PTR or ITF certified professionals, will assist the Pat Cash team here.
Young guests
Earlier than this, most likely in December this year, a bunch of Australian tennis youngsters will be guests at the Match Point Tennis Academy.
"This exchange programme between us and the Pat Cash Tennis Academy is very much part of our agreement," Zeeshan Ali stated.
"We are yet to decide on the dates for the arrival of the kids from Australia," he added.
The agreement between the two academies works both ways.
"Pat Cash recognises the importance of having a representation in a fast-growing place like Dubai. And we too want our aspiring youngsters to look at new places rather than the traditional ones in the US and Europe," Zeeshan Ali said.
Earlier this summer, Zeeshan Ali visited the academy in Gold Coast with a group of 15 junior players based in the UAE. Meanwhile, some junior players from Pakistan are also scheduled to visit the UAE some time in January next year.
