Dubai tennis ticket sales start today

DUBAI — Dubai Duty Free has announced that Grand Stand tickets for the 2006 Dubai Tennis Championships will go on sale today at the Dubai Tennis Stadium box office.

Although the 2006 Dubai Tennis Championships has attracted its best ever line-up which includes many of the world’s top tennis players, Dubai Duty Free will freeze ticket prices at 2004 and 2005 levels.

“We are pleased to announce that ticket prices will remain the same, making the Dubai tournament one of the best value-for-money events on the WTA and ATP Tours,” said Colm McLoughlin, managing director of Dubai Duty Free, owners and organisers of the event.

“We were delighted with the response of the Dubai public at last year’s event which saw sell out crowds and once again our ticket pricing structure will be a way of making the tournament more accessible to tennis fans both at home and from overseas.”

Organisers this week announced an all-star cast for the 2006 tournament which includes reigning Dubai champions Roger Federer and Lindsay Davenport, as well as Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, Marat Safin, Justine Henin-Hardenne and the Williams sisters.

“The Dubai Tennis Championships is universally recognised in tennis as one of the year’s premium events and with a line-up comprising some of the world’s top players, this year’s event will be no exception,” said McLoughlin. Tickets for Grand Stand seating for the first three days of each tournament are priced Dh30, moving on to Dh40 for the quarter-finals, Dh60 for the semi-finals and Dh100 for the finals.

As per last year, Grand Stand seating will be on a first come first served basis.

For fans wanting corporate season tickets for Prime Seating (the first two rows), they will be on sale from next week. Organisers have this year introduced a free seating policy in the front two rows of the east and west Prime Seating area.

Corporate Hospitality packages, which include Prime Seating and the chance to dine at the Cellar Restaurant at the Aviation Club will also be available next week.

News that superstar Maria Sharapova is competing in the Women’s Open for the first time ever is sure to provide an added impetus to ticket sales. The flamboyant Russian teenager is one of the biggest pin-ups in world sport and is also regarded as being among the most entertaining players in women’s tennis.

Three-time Dubai Champion and World No. 1, Roger Federer, will be returning to the city which has embraced him as its own. The 24-year-old Swiss star is chasing his fourth consecutive Dubai title.

The greatest tennis extravaganza in the Middle East will kick-off at the Dubai Tennis Stadium on February 20 with the $1,000,000 women’s event featuring no less than six Grand Slam Champions. Another $1,000,000 will be up for grabs from February 27 in the 14th staging of the ATP tournament.

Tickets are available from the Dubai Tennis Stadium Box Office. For further information call 04 3160140 or visit www.itptickets.com or www.dubaitennischampionships.com.

The Dubai Tennis Championships takes place under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

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