Dubai Celebrates with Moët & Chandon Bubbly

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 26th February 2014

Dubai Celebrates with Moët & Chandon Bubbly

epa04100078 Boris Becker (up), German coach of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic (front) watches the first round match between Djokovic and Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis ATP Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 25 February 2014. EPA/ALI HAIDER |

There were celebrations again in Dubai last night after the announcement of the 2013 ATP World Tour Awards presented by Moët & Chandon. Alison Lee, Executive Vice President of the ATP’s International Group was in town to present the Dubai Duty Free Championships with the Best 500 series tournament for the tenth time in 11 years.

Lee presented the Dubai prize to Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free and tournament director Salah Tahlak with world no.2 Novak Djokovic in attendance after winning his opening singles match in the bid to win the title for the fifth time in six years.

“As the tournament organizers, it is a great honor to once again receive the award for Best Tournament in the ATP 500 category for the 10th time,” said McLoughlin. “We have always tried to ensure that the players have a fantastic experience when they come to Dubai and that we create a very relaxed and friendly environment. Also over the years we have greatly enhanced the facilities, including the opening of our own five-star hotel on-site, the Jumeirah Creekside, which has been very well received by the players.

“Our thanks to the ATP and the players for once again recognizing the efforts that we have made to ensure that the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is top of their list year after year.”

As defending champion, Djokovic said: “It’s been voted for six times in a row as the best 500 tournament, and it’s definitely one of the best organized tournaments in the world. They make sure that all the players feel like they’re at home. They have great facilities, and now with the new hotel it has become even more convenient for the players to be close to the courts. For a player to be part of such a great event is always an honor.”

Charles H. Smith, Managing Director/International of Juss Event, China’s largest sports/events management company which stages the Shanghai event, was also in Dubai in his capacity of ATP World Tour board member for a series of meetings called to improve the Challenger circuit.

Jiang Lan, Chief Executive Officer of Juss Event, sent a message that read: “It is with boundless gratitude that I thank the ATP players, our title sponsor Rolex and the amazing Juss team on winning for the fifth consecutive year the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Tournament of the Year honor. We must share the recognition with the city of Shanghai for enabling us to host the greatest tennis players in the world, in one of the greatest cities in the world. We are truly thrilled to win the award five years running.”

With the Queen’s Club event winning the 250 category, another long running victory story has ended with the 11-year run of Bastad’s SkiStar Swedish Open. Michael Downey, the new Chief Executive of Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association, that owns the London grass court event that will soon be upgraded to a 500 series said: “We are delighted to receive this award which recognizes the fabulous jobs that our Aegon Championships team, The Queen’s Club and our long-time Tournament Director and now the ATP’s Executive Chairman and President, Chris Kermode, have done over the years, and the contribution made by our commercial partners, particularly Aegon.

“We are now building towards making the 2014 event a success, with our sights also set firmly on 2015, when the tournament will attain ATP-500 status for the first time, at the heart of an expanded grass court season.”

Topics: 10sballs, Atp World Tour, Dubai, Dubai Duty Free Championships, Moët & Chandon, Novak Djokovic, Queen's Club, Sports, Tennis

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February 26, 2014 at 8:47 am

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