Dubai: The secretary general of Tennis Emirates (TE) hopes the UAE’s retention of its place in Davis Cup Group III will be the start of some exciting times for the team.
“What we achieved by retaining our spot in Group III is a big push for tennis and for all of us involved with the sport in the UAE,” Sarah Baker, TE secretary general and board member, told Gulf News.
“We were quite scared we may have to go back to Group IV, but our players gave their best and ensured we stay back in Group III for another year. This is not the end. This is just the beginning for tennis in the UAE. There are a lot of things that we are contemplating and these will be known in due course.
“We want to make a change for tennis here and I believe our efforts in the Davis Cup last week are just the beginning of things to come.”
Baker was joined by fellow board member Ahmad Abdul Malek and members of TE staff when they called on Shaikh Hasher Al Maktoum, TE president, at his residential palace on Saturday.
“This is just a small gesture on our part to make the employees get a sense of belonging to the tennis family. We can do something and be something for tennis in the UAE and we have to start with our own staff,” Baker said.
The UAE won two ties — against Pacific Oceania and Oman — at Dubai’s Aviation Club last week to maintain their place in Group III of the Asia/Oceania zone. This feat was achieved despite injuries to two of their main players, Omar Behroozian and Mahmoud Nader, during the week.
