A coincidence that led him to the first edition 2001

Abdel Fattah. Referee completes his 23rd year in «Tennis Dubai»

  • Polish world number one Świłętek beat Russian Samsonova yesterday. Cinematographer: Patrick Castillo

  • Ahmed Abdel Fattah: «The championship contributed to the manufacture of more than 60 referees, Arabs and foreigners, who are the best in the world».

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Egyptian referee Ahmed Abdel Fattah continued his association for the 23rd consecutive year in the Dubai International Women's Tennis Championship, as he was associated with the management of the tournament matches currently held at the Dubai Duty Free courts in Al Garhoud area in Dubai, since its first edition. The current edition, which runs until January 25, has a prize pool of $2.9 million, and will see the participation of elite players on the international stage, led by 17 of the top 20 players in the world rankings.

Abdel Fattah told Emirates Today: «The beginning came by chance by meeting an invitation from a friend to play a special refereeing course in tennis in 2000, the fruits of which were paving the way for me to engage gradually and since the first edition in the championships (Dubai Tennis) for professional players as a referee for lines».

He explained: «My work in physical education in Dubai was behind the keenness to master new skills, including training courses related to the aspects of refereeing, before I got the opportunity to succeed in the tennis referees course, which paved the way for me to be among the first refereeing teams in the Dubai Championship, and accompany the successes of this tournament since its birth in 2001 until today».

He added: «Despite my retirement in 2020 and my return to Egypt, I am keen annually to come to Dubai, and to be present in this tournament, which always witnesses the participation of major stars and seeds on the international scene, and there is no doubt that the tournament leaves us with unforgettable memories, including my presence in the crews of the 2014 final, which was crowned by the American tennis legend Venus Williams».

He pointed to the pioneering role played by «Tennis Dubai» in the development of global arbitration, and the provision of illustrious names of Arab and foreign referees alike to the world championships, and said: «The tournament has always been characterized throughout its history by the possession of elite refereeing crews, in addition to the contribution of the experiences gained from the tournament in the manufacture of more than 60 referees from Arabs and foreigners, they are the best in the world, most notably six Arab chair referees who manage major tournaments the size of Wimbledon, Australia, Roland Garros and others, and many of those who currently occupy Senior positions that have already started their careers as line referees in the Dubai championships."

'First seed' approaching the dream of the first title

Polish world number one Iga Świętek came one step closer to achieving her first historic title in 'Tennis Dubai', after winning yesterday easily in the final price over Russian world number 13 Lyudmila Samsonova in two sets without a response (6-1 and 6-18). Poland's Shwiuntek hit a date today in the quarter-finals with Czech 33th seed Karolina Pelzkova, after the latter beat Ukrainian 7rd seed Anhelina Kalinina in two sets (5-6, 7-2, 6-<>).

In the surprises of the final price, Czech 112th seed Karolina Muchova, holder of the tournament title in 2019 and ranked ninth in the world, eliminated Swiss Belinda Bencic in two sets without a response (6-1, 6-4), to set up a date today in the quarter-finals with American third seed Jessica Pegula, who in turn beat Romanian Anna Bogdan in two sets without reply (6-4, 6-3).

Mirza bids farewell to Dubai Tennis after 20 years

Indian tennis star Sanya Mirza, the day before yesterday, accompanied by her American colleague Madison Keys doubles competitions in «Tennis Dubai» by losing in the second round to the duo Veronika Kudermtova and Lyudmila Samsonova in two sets without a response (4-6 and 0-6), and this became the last match for Mirza in the world of yellow ball, after taking the decision to retire in «Tennis Dubai», the tournament in which she began her career 20 years ago, and achieved remarkable achievements, most notably the title of the Australian Open and America for the year 2015, and Wimbledon 2016.

Mirza said: "It's time to pay attention to different priorities, and I am really grateful for what I have been able to achieve over the course of a 20-year career." She explained: "It was a long and full of achievements, starting from here in Dubai, and from here I bid farewell to the world of yellow ball, and I look forward to the second phase of my life and my family."