Abu Dhabi: A flavour of Wimbledon will be brought to Abu Dhabi between Thursday and Saturday when the UAE’s first grass court tennis tournament is held at Emirates Palace hotel.
The inaugural ‘Fortnum & Mason presents Tennis at The Palace’ is a three-day exhibition event featuring ex-Wimbledon champions Pat Cash, Richard Krajicek, Jana Novotna and Marion Bartoli.
Britain’s Tim Henman, a six-time grand slam semi-finalist, Morocco’s Younus Al Aynaoui, flamboyant Frenchman Henri Leconte, Iranian trickshot maestro Mansour and 1970s and 80s veterans Mikael Pernfors and Peter McNamara complete the line-up at what organisers are billing as a quintessential British garden party.
A purpose-built court has been erected in the grounds of Emirates Palace laid with rye grass ‘to replicate Wimbledon itself, making it the very first grass court tennis tournament in the UAE’, organisers said on Wednesday.
A spokesman said: “Emirates Palace Hotel staff have been busy in their preparations ahead of the event, having spent two full weeks and 1,500 hours of work on an intense automated grass irrigation, levelling out the grass on the impressive lawns to ensure the most perfect surface possible for the first grass court tournament in the UAE. With the aid of a specialist machine, they will ensure the court surface remains exactly 0.4 inches throughout the duration of the three-day tournament.”
Aside from the relaxed and enjoyable tennis fare served up the past masters and mistresses, organisers say that the anticipated 1,500 guests over the weekend can enjoy afternoon tea and a game of croquet with title sponsor Fortnum & Mason and marvel at the full-size model of Etihad Airway’s new Residence cabin, among other treats.
For more information and ticket packages, visit www.tennisatthepalace.ae.
