Abu Dhabi: Hundreds of tennis players across the UAE have been competing in the Mubadala Community Cup, all bidding for a place at one of the four exclusive clinics with star players competing in the 2011 Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi between December 29 and 31.
Two weekends of tennis in Abu Dhabi and Dubai saw players from Under-10 to adults battling to win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join exclusive coaching sessions with the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, David Ferrer, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils.
The round robin event was divided into five age-groups: 10 years and under, 12 years and under, 14 years and under, 16 years and under and adult mixed doubles.
In Abu Dhabi, the excellent Sanjana Sudhir went one better than her runner-up spot last year, triumphing in the closely contested 16 and under girls' category, while the boys' 16 and under competition saw the impressive Attila McFerren sealing his place at the clinic with some typically aggressive groundstrokes.
Anders Boesen claimed the 12 and under title from Patrick Wong.
Favourite player
In Dubai, Brij Menon and Anna Tozin led the way in a thrilling finale in the adults' mixed doubles, Simran Noronha sealed the girls' 16 and under crown, while Brent Dixon took the boys' category. Teodora Sabljarevic put past disappointments behind her by confirming her place at the clinic with a win in the 14 and under girls at Le Royal Meridien and Christian Linge added the boys' title to last year's 12 and under triumph.
Atif Shaikh won the 12 and under bracket, while in the 10 and under Serbian Viktor Jovic retained the title he won last year.
Jovic, who honed his skills on the same Belgrade baselines as world No 1 Djokovic, said: "I'm really happy, I wasn't sure I was going to win, but I wasn't nervous in the final either.
"It would be great to have Nadal teach me at the clinic because he's my favourite player ever."
