Rotana gets Al Balooshi ready for Davis Cup

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  • Happy hunting ground: Al Balooshi.

    Close to 150 players will help celebrate the 10th anniversary of the ADCB Beach Rotana Tennis Open, which kicks off today, including the UAE national team headlined by defending champion Mahmoud Nader Al Balooshi.

    Al Balooshi, who has won the title on five previous occasions, will be using the event as preparation for the UAE’s upcoming Davis Cup Group IV tie, which takes place in Bahrain from April 27.

    The 10th edition of the Open will see 147 players compete across 10 categories with events available for ages 10 and under all the way to 45 and over. The finals will be held on April 24

     “This tournament is a special one for me; it is one that I really enjoy, I feel like it is my tournament,” Al Balooshi told Sport360°.

    “Last year’s final against Hamad Janahi was a great match and I’m looking forward to playing it again this year.”

    Staged at Bodylines Fitness & Wellness Club at Abu Dhabi’s Beach Rotana, the tournament, which is the brainchild of its director Mowafak Al Amin, has grown since its inception in 2004.

    “The tournament has been growing year on year,” said Al Amin. “It started off more as an amateur event but now the level of players has really increased and we have internationally-ranked players who come and play here.

    “The UAE’s Davis Cup team will be using it as a preparation for their tie in Bahrain so it’s an important event for them.

    “We’re able to attract more sponsors each year and the hotel itself has become more supportive. I feel there’s a surge in tennis in Abu Dhabi in recent years and I’m glad we are part of it. 

    “There are also several GCC players, from Saudi Arabia and Qatar in both the junior and men’s events.”

    Spectators are encouraged to attend, for free, with matches starting at 16:00 on weekdays and 09:00 on weekends.

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