DUBAI: Tickets for one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the UAE sporting calendar – the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships – go on sale online on Thursday 18 January through the tournament website, with the Stadium Box Office opening on Thursday 25 January. With a great line-up of players again vying for the prestigious title, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium is set to be the place to be from 19 February – 3 March.
Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free “This year we are opening ticket sales online in advance of the box office to ensure that all fans have an equal chance to purchase tickets to see the world’s top players in action.
“The women’s entry list is now finalised and we are looking forward to sharing the ATP list in the coming days. We are delighted to announce another impressive women’s line-up, headed by Wimbledon champion Garbiñe Muguruza and our defending champion Elina Svitolina, which also includes several of our previous champions and finalists.”
Spain’s Muguruza won her first Grand slam at the 2016 French Open, and followed that up with a remarkable season in 2017, winning Wimbledon, reaching world number one and being named the WTA 2017 Player of the Year.
Now world number three, Muguruza will face a formidable line up in Dubai which includes Dubai 2016 champion Elina Svitolina. Svitolina, now ranked world number four, led the WTA tour in singles titles in 2017 and has continued her good form, winning the first Premier title of the season and her 10th career title at the Brisbane International earlier this month.
Svitolina is one of three former champions in the hunt for their second Dubai title, with Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska and Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova also in the line-up. Four of the top 10 and 11 of the top 20 ranked women are in the fray, including world number eight Caroline Garcia and previous Dubai runners-up – world number six Karolina Pliskova; Barbora Strycova; and Julia Goerges. Goerges is also in winning form, taking her third consecutive WTA title at the ASB Classic in Auckland this month with a win over Caroline Wozniacki.
Also in the mix will be former world number one and 2016 Australian Open and US Open champion, Angelique Kerber, and young hopefuls 21 year old Australian Ashleigh Barty and 22 year old American Madison Keys. Kerber returned to the podium last weekend, holding off a determined Barty to win her first title of 2018, the Sydney International.
Tournament Director, Salah Tahlak commented: “The women’s line-up is fantastic and with so many players performing so well we are sure to see some incredible matches, and in the proud tradition of this tournament, may yet produce another surprise champion.
“Ticket prices start from as little as 55dhs for the opening three days of WTA week, ensuring fans a fantastic opportunity to see the top players in action on Centre Court, as well as enjoying the packed social program.
“As always, the Tennis Village will be buzzing all fortnight with entertainment, music, autograph signings, the big screens showing the action live and a host of other events and activities including Kids’ Days, Ladies’ Night, and plenty of competitions for fans to win those sought after finals tickets.”
Staged at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Garhoud, the action will commence on 19 February with the WTA Premier 700 event, followed on 26 February with the ATP 500 tournament offering equal prizemoney for the men and women from a combined prize pool of US$5.6 million.
Grandstand ticket prices for the WTA event start at AED55 for opening rounds to AED735 for the ATP finals, with daily Prime A and Prime B tickets and season tickets also available. (All inclusive of VAT). Tickets will be available online at http://www.dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com/en/tickets For further information about tickets, prices and the tournament visit www.dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com.
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free, and held under the patronage of H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Sports Desk
