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Dubai: Tennis is one the fastest growing sport in the UAE and it is enjoying a boom time the world over, thanks to names such as Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Ana Ivanovic, Maria Sharapova and Jelena Jankovic.
Some parents look at tennis as a serious career option, or as a healthy sport for their children.
The last few years have seen tennis grow rapidly in the UAE with several big name players making the UAE their base to run training academies.
Much of this effort has been in the unorganised sector, making it difficult for parents to easily find a suitable place to send their children to for training.
There are several parents who have utilised the early years to get their children introduced to the rudiments of the game. They then have turned their attention to packing their kids off to their home countries to get them established on the circuit.
Several names come to mind, such as India's Navdeep Singh or England's Jennifer Smith or the Parekh sisters, Toral and Bindiya or the Patel twins Chirag and Chirayu, all who utilised their tennis prowess to secure scholarships in top American universities. The latest in this genre is lanky Dutchman Stefan Muller, who last week left for higher education to the US.
Most of the academies here are operated on an individual basis. Tennis Emirates, the governing body for the sport in the UAE, has tried on several attempts in the past to have all such academies registered with it.
However, freelance coaches continue to abound and it is not unusual to find youngsters attending coaching lessons at some private tennis courts in their vicinity. But there are a few notable academies and tennis training schools that are popular among the residents of UAE.
Popular schools
- Al Nasr Leisureland: 04-3371234
- Aviation Club, Dubai Tennis Stadium 04-2824540
- Dubai International Tennis Academy 050-655 6152
- Dorell Tennis Schools located at the Dubai World Trade Centre Club tennis courts and Shangri-La Hotel 050-6598500
- Excel Sports, Dubai 050-7943656
- Etisalat Academy and Recreation Club, Dubai
- 04-2043491 or 050-6406502
- Fujairah Tennis and Country Club, Fujairah
- 09-2226842 or 050-7512046
- Manny Gayon Tennis at Le Meridien Hotel, Abu Dhabi 050-7718502
- Match Point Tennis Academy 050-6591311
- Super Sports Dubai 050-6575021 or 04-3994826
- Tennis Training Centre, Mirdiff in association with the Mahesh Bhupathi Tennis Academy 04-2880535
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