Forget about tennis, badminton and squash; the latest racquet craze to capture the imagination is beach tennis.
You may be doubting how it would work on sand where the ball can’t bounce but that’s what makes the sport unique. It uses the same scoring format as tennis but is played like badminton in the sense that you are always volleying.
However the gameplay is much faster and more thrilling because you play with a soft ball and a paddle racquet.
Since being formalised in 2005, beach tennis has become one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Bernard Aoun, managing partner and co-founder of Beach Tennis Middle East, decided that it would be perfect for the UAE.
“We have more then 25km of beach shore in Dubai, you can play 12 months a year, so why not bring it to the UAE,” Aoun tells Sport360. “Out of passion and love for the game, that’s how it started. We have been operating for 18 months now and it’s been a success.”
Aoun recently created a beach tennis arena at The Beach, Jumeriah Beach Residence which he feels will help increase the exposure of the sport in this region. “We first started in Jumeriah at Kite Beach and did a year there. Then we moved to a busier location which is here at The Beach, JBR.
“I feel beach tennis will grow quickly out here. We already have around 500 players on our database that come to play from both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It’s a bit hot at the moment to play but we have set up the floodlights so it’s more enjoyable during the night.”
Don’t be concerned if you have never played before or would like to be taught some skills.
Bernard and the Beach Tennis ME team offer private clinics as well as fitness training and corporate team building events. They also have specific discovery beach tennis classes for beginners.
The sport is gaining popularity quickly. One such enthusiasts is Daniel Saliba who hadn’t played a lot of racquet sports before trying out beach tennis. Now, he can’t get enough of it.
“Beach tennis is awesome,” Saliba claimed. “When I played this sport for the first time I got addicted. The sand, sun and vibe have made this sport my favourite.
Head down to The Beach, JBR to get a real taste of the sport that has got everybody talking.
What: Beach Tennis Middle East
Where: The Beach, Jumeirah Beach Residence
When: From 16:00 to 23:00 for now but 06:30 to 23:30 from September 16 onwards
Contact: Call 055 268 6090, email [email protected] or visit www.beachtennis.ae
