Every February for the past 24 years, Dubai Tennis Stadium has been the venue for fierce battles for sporting glory and big money, as some of the world’s top players compete in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
But these days, the big winners are just as likely to be in the riveted audience, as the annual tournament features plenty of chances to score prizes.
With the tournament kicking off on February 15, here’s a look at the contests everyone attending the matches can take part in.
Catch and Win
Every day, at the start of each session, 10 tennis balls are thrown into the crowd. Each ball caught can be redeemed at the Dubai Duty Free stand for a prize from the sponsors.
#DDFSelfie Competition
Are you at the tennis on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (for both WTA and ATP weeks)? Take a photograph of yourself in the Centre Court Grandstand showing your wristband for that day’s play, then post it via Instagram, Twitter or Foursquare to be in the running to win two finals tickets. There will be six winners in total.
Check-in Challenge
On the first three days of both weeks, check in on Facebook, Instagram and Foursquare when you arrive at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium for a chance to win two finals tickets or autographed merchandise. There will be six winners in total.
Look-A-Like Competition
Do you look like one of the players competing at this year’s Championships? Send a photo of yourself (and a shot of the player to compare) with #DDFtennis and #Lookalike tags on Twitter and Instagram. The winner will get to have a photograph taken with their lookalike player.
DDF Official Junior Reporter
If you’re aged 11-17 years and looking to put the tabloid! team out of business, enter this contest. The prize: to ask one of the tennis players a question during their post-match on-court interview. Upload a film of yourself and your proposed question to YouTube and send the link to sport@promoseven.com.
Irish Village fun
Have the Tennis Menu at lunchtime during the WTA week and get free afternoon passes for the first three days of the first week. 15 families will win tickets to the WTA finals. Get the kids to take part in the drawing competition (for those buying the Tennis Family Lunch menu). All completed sheets are entered into a draw to win DDF goody bags and tickets to the tennis for the family.
Dubai Duty Free Audi draw
A new Audi Q7 (in Glacier White) is up for grabs in this raffle. Buy one of 1,300 tickets (Dh500 each) at the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise counter at the Tennis Stadium, in Departures and Arrivals in Terminals 1, 2 and 3, at The Irish Village Craft Shop and at the DDF Finest Surprise counter at Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
Guess the tennis balls
This annual tradition is a favourite: Guess the correct number of tennis balls in the car parked in the tennis village during the tournament. The prize? A trip for two to an Audi R8 Driving Experience in Europe, with two round-trip business class tickets, hotel accommodation, airport transfer and an Audi driving experience in Europe (either Belgium, Austria and Germany). It’s Dh10 to enter.
Lacoste Moments
A trip to Paris to watch the French Open at Roland Garros is up for grabs from the French sportwear label. Ticketholders get a Lacoste wristband with a serial number. The winning number will be drawn after the men’s quarter finals — and the winner needs to be present to claim the prize.
Emirates ball flight
If it’s the Australian Open you’re interested in, make sure you’re at the men’s semi finals. One of the winning players will hit three red balls into the crowd; whoever catches them will have a chance to win a trip to Australia to see the 2017 Grand Slam.
A Burj Al Arab weekend
All spectators will have a chance to win a two-night stay at Burj Al Arab by simply filling in the entry form and answering the simple question. The correct answers will be entered into a draw to take place after the men’s finals. Entry coupons are available at Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise desks or the Dubai Duty Free Shop located at the Tennis Village.
FANtastic Fan Day
On February 25, dress up to support your favourite player. The TV camera crew will identify contestants in the crowd prior to the 7pm match; the winners will be selected based on the loudest cheer from the crowd as their image goes on the big screen. The prize is tickets to the men’s final, a dinner for two at the Jumeriah Creekside Hotel and the chance to toss the coin and have their photo taken with the players at the beginning of the match.
