Dubai: The late announcement of Serena Williams joining the fray in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships this year has given it that extra buzz. For there is Serena, and then there are other women tennis players.
There has been possibly no other player who has dominated the sport on her own terms like the younger of the Williams sisters — and it’s a bonus for the fans at the Dubai Tennis Stadium this week that they will get a glimpse of both of them in action.
Starting in July 2002 when she became World No 1 for the first time, Serena has gone on to regain that glory another five times — the most recent occasion coming exactly a year ago after yet another epic final at the Qatar Open. Besides emerging as the oldest world number one in the history of the WTA, Serena is the only female player to have won in excess of $50 million (Dh183.6 million) in prize money.
Serena had capped a superb return to form last season by winning the French Open, US Open and the season-ending WTA Tour Championships in Istanbul. The 32-year-old American holds the most Major singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles combined among active players, male or female. Her total of 32 Grand Slams includes 17 singles, 13 doubles and a couple of mixed doubles crowns putting her seventh on the all-time list.
Tournament Director Salah Tahlak is well aware of the power of Serena in pulling in spectators, fans and of course, the media exposure that goes along with it. Tahlak explained the rationale behind a move like handing Serena a wild card for this week’s Dubai tournament.
As if to accomplish a certain double flourish, Dubai Duty Free handed Venus, a former world No 1 and a two-time Dubai winner, a wild card as well. “I made sure my sister was travelling along with me to Dubai,” Venus said at the pre-event official draw ceremony at the Majlis on Saturday.
“I’d certainly like to go out and do some shopping here. It’s such an awesome place for shopping,” she said.
For the organisers, it means much more than having just two great tennis players.
“It makes perfect sense to have the best. Since we made the announcement of Serena’s arrival, our ticket sales have shown an increase of 30 to 40 per cent. It’s like suddenly everyone is interested in attending the women’s competition as well, and that’s the appeal of the sisters [Venus and Serena],” Tahlak said.
After that last-minute no-show due to an old injury last year, Serena seems earnest in going all the way this week. She was among the first top-ranked players using the side courts to practice with her team on Sunday morning.
Power and athleticism are the terms normally associated with the Williams sisters. It would make perfect sense this week to come along and take in something different from the world of women’s tennis. After all, it’s Serena and her sporting prowess speaks for itself.
