The weather is humid but this hasn’t stopped Zayed Sports City from opening their gates for those who want to play tennis this summer.
Whether you want to play with your family and friends, or want to develop your skills, there’s something for everyone.
Court rentals are available on a daily basis, while coaching clinics are offered by PSS Tennis Academies.
Since the International Tennis Centre opened in 2005, it has gone from strength to strength with the annual three-day Mubadala World Tennis Championship attracting some of the world’s best players including Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic.
It’s no surprise that the tournament and tennis programmes at Zayed Sports City have helped raised the profile of the sport in the capital. “The Mubadala World Tennis Championship is definitely the highlight of international tennis in Abu Dhabi but we have lots of other programmes throughout the year that are just as important,” said Barry Bremner, general manager at Zayed Sports City.
“Being the venue for the Mubadala World Tennis Championship creates an awareness of the facilities, and certainly there are some people who are attracted to the opportunity to play on the same court as Djokovic or Nadal. There is more to it than this though – there are another 362 days each year that we offer well-maintained courts, highly qualified coaches, great amenities, a fantastic pro-shop and an overall fun tennis experience. This is what keeps people coming back.”
He added: “We developed the Abu Dhabi Wilson Tennis Cup three years ago, which exceeded our expectations and has quickly become the UAE’s biggest and best community tournament. The sport is definitely gaining popularity and shows no sign of stopping.”
Courts are open daily from 06:00 to 23:00 and can be booked in advance with rental fees ranging from Dh60 in the morning to Dh150 in the evenings. With affordable prices, Bremner insists there’s plenty to gain from playing in one of UAE’s top tennis destinations.
“If you are already a tennis player, you will not find better facilities anywhere in the city,” he said.
“If you’re not a player yet, you will not find better coaching anywhere in the city. We focus on making sure everything we offer is of a high standard and this makes us stand out.”
What: Tennis activities and coaching clinics
Where: Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi
When: On-going
Contact: To rent a court visit www.zsc.ae or for a coaching class email [email protected].
