Dubai - The tennis season is about to begin in the city and in addition to the Barclays Dubai Tennis Champion-ships for men and women, this year will also see the inception of an ITF seniors' tennis tournament at the Aviation Club from March 3-7.
It will be the first of its kind in the UAE and Liz Vlotman, whose Love Sports are behind the concept, told XPRESS that she wanted the event to grow in stature and become a permanent fixture in the tennis calendar.
Age no bar “It's a start that we hope will take the tournament from a Grade V to a Grade I event,'' she said. “It is wonderful to have this opportunity to work with the UAETA to bring this ITF event to Dubai and I hope that many local tennis players will enjoy the tournament.
“These senior tennis players are a great example of the benefits of sport and exercise for a healthy and active lifestyle. One of the entries is aged 78 and he still travels the world with his wife participating in the sport he loves and enjoying the country they are visiting,'' she added.
Vlotman was a successful player herself during her prime. “I played on the pro tour in the mid-'70s, playing at Wimbledon and the US Open and competing against the likes of Billie Jean King, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. I reached a highest world ranking of 65,'' she said.
And given her pedigree, it's no wonder that she has managed to rope in the renowned Alan Mills as the referee for the tournament. “I know him from my Wimbledon days and given that this tournament follows on the heels of the Dubai Tennis Championships, he kindly accepted the offer to be the referee of the tournament,'' she said.
Event details
Eligibility: Tournament is open to international and local tennis players Dates: March 3-7 Venue: The Aviation Club and Tennis Stadium Age categories: Men (singles/doubles): 35 to 85; Women (singles/doubles): 35 to 75; Mixed doubles: 40 to 70 Entry deadline: Feb 26 Entry fee: $50 per event to be paid on registration at the tournament Tournament details and entry form available at www.love-sports.org
