Going Out: Be a ball kid for the DDF Tennis Championships

Matt Jones - Editor 09:23 05/11/2015
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  • Ball kids with 2015 champion Simona Halep.

    How many chances will you get to stand within 10 feet of players like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic or Serena Williams?

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    The CF Tennis Academy is just starting its planning for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships being held from February 15 to March 1 next year in the UAE.

    More than 100 professional tennis players will descend upon the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Garhoud to battle it out for the prestigious title.

    Last year saw Swiss ace Federer overcome world number one and fierce rival Djokovic to regain his title while Simona Halep defeated Karolina Pliskova for her first Dubai title in the women’s section.

    For over 20 years CF Tennis Academy has provided the ball kids for world class tennis events in the Emirates and starting this Saturday, they will be inviting children aged between 10 and 16 to come and train with them for next year’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

    Join the team.

    Over 100 children are used throughout the championships with matches being played over five or six courts per day.

    For CF Tennis Academy director of tennis Paul Espie, it’s an honour to be asked by Dubai Duty Free to provide the ball girls and boys for an event which has been voted the factfile best tournament of the year for 11 out of the last 12 years by players on both the ATP World Tour and WTA Tour.

    “When I was a child I desperately wanted to be a ball kid at Wimbledon and get that close to my idols,” said Espie. “I am still yet to meet a former ball kid from our programme who hasn’t referred to the experience as the greatest of their lives. It’s a dream come true for any budding tennis player.

    “When I started training the ball kids here In 2009 I really couldn’t believe the workloads and efforts of every single person involved.”

    Being a ball girl or boy looks and sounds easy but when you add to that fetching towels, drinks, umbrellas and ball changes, not to mention the potential 40 degree heat the UAE experiences at that time of year, it’s clear these unsung heroes deserve everyone’s respect.

    Throwing, rolling, running, score-keeping and even the seemingly simple task of standing still are elements of this intensive training regime designed to ensure CF Tennis Academy remains the benchmark for tournaments worldwide.

    From this Saturday, Clark and his team will be there every Saturday from 11:00 to 13:00 training almost 300 young hopefuls all looking to get the best seats in the house for next year’s event. 

    VENUE: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium
    WHAT: Be a ball kid for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
    WHEN: Saturdays from 11:00 to 13:00 from November 7
    Sport360 VERDICT: If you love tennis, this training programme is ace.
    CONTACT: Email [email protected], visit www.cftennisacademy.com to register, or call Paul Espie on 055 685 2666 for further info.

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