Special Features
The Legendary Champions Are Back To Rock Dubai
Once again, Delwood is proud to present one of the highlights of the Outback Champions Series, Emirates NBD’s The Legends “Rock” Dubai returning for a fourth edition to our shores. This is the last tournament of the year on the 2008 Outback Champions Series calendar. The leading competitive Champions tennis tournament will be held again this year at the Dubai Tennis Stadium at The Aviation Club and the event promises to be highly entertaining with a truly amazing line up of players. The five day event program will commence on Tuesday November 18th with the popular Kids Day and Pro-AM tournament followed in the evening by the legendary Charity Gala Dinner including an auction organized by Christies with all proceeds being donated to the two dedicated charities of the event, Dubai Autism Center and Dubai Center for Special Needs. The competitive tournament begins on Wednesday, November 19th at the Dubai Tennis Stadium at The Aviation Club with a round robin format of two groups of three which means that each day spectators will witness two competitive singles and one entertaining doubles match. The finals and prize giving ceremony will take place on Saturday November 22nd.The confirmed players for this years line up include former world number one Jim Courier (USA) winner of 23 career singles titles including four Grand Slams; two successive French Open titles in 1991 and 1992, and two successive Australian Open titles in 1992 and 1993, as well as runner-up finishes at Wimbledon and US Open during the same period. His first Grand Slam success came on the red clay of Paris in 1991. Jim Courier is also heavily involved in charity work, he is the co-founder of Courier’s Kids; a non-profit organization that supports extra-curricular tennis and education programs. He is last year’s finalist of Emirates NBD’s The Legends “Rock” Dubai and the most celebrated of this year’s line up of participants. Expect great things from him.
Wimbledon Champion Goran Ivanisevic, the big serving Croat, is best remembered for his truly inspirational Wimbledon win. In 2001, after three previous attempts at the title ended with runner-up finishes at Wimbledon throughout the 1990’s, the crown was finally his. Ivanisevic came to All England club as a wildcard entrant ranked 125 in the world and left as Champion! This achievement made him the only player in an open era to win Wimbledon on a wildcard entry. Over his career the Croat won 22 singles titles including the Dubai Tennis Championship in 1996. Goran also amassed 9 doubles titles throughout his career. Be sure to watch Goran’s matches closely as his famous serve will not disappoint, expect many fiery aces and when times get tough he might break a racket or two. One thing is certain, you will be entertained.
Two-time French Open Champion Sergi Bruguera won 14 career singles titles including Monte Carlo, the French Open for two consecutive years in 1993 and 1994, and was the Olympic Silver Medalist in 1996. Bruguera has been ranked as high as No.3 in the world. The master of the clay courts will bring flair to the competition in the way that only clay courters can.
Also returning to defend his 2007 The Legends “Rock” Dubai Championship title is Paul Haarhuis. The Dutchman is best known for his success in doubles, former doubles world No.1 and a winner of six Grand Slam doubles titles. His impressive list of titles includes: The Australian Open and US Open in 1994, Roland Garros in 1995, 1998 and 2002 and Wimbledon in 1998.
Another standout, Sweden’s Anders Jarryd, was a dominating force on the ATP Tour in both singles and doubles for almost two decades. During his illustrious career he captured 8 singles titles and 59 doubles titles, including 8 Grand Slam doubles titles. Jarryd also won the Davis Cup for Sweden, reached the World No. 1 doubles ranking and achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No.5. Look for Jarryd’s fast feed and great returns to keep the field
Website: http://www.thelegendsrockdubai.com
