Dubai named ATP 500 Tournament of Year on debut status year
       
 
Monday, February 22, 2010

Dubai, UAE, February 22nd, 2010: The Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships is celebrating yet another success after being named the 2009 ATP World Tour 500 Tournament of the Year.

Dubai saw aside competition from tournaments in Barcelona, Washington DC, Beijing, Tokyo and Basel to win the award.

Brad Drewett, CEO, ATP International flew in especially earlier this week to present Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of tournament owners and organisers Dubai Duty Free, with the prestigious award.

The Championships acclaimed its ATP status prior to last year’s tournament, and the announcement of the award is even more impressive given that this was the Championships’ debut year with the 500 points status. Remarkably, it is also the tournament’s 14th ATP award since 1993 – the tournament’s inaugural year - and the sixth time that the Dubai men’s week has won the prestigious ‘Tournament of the Year’ award.

“The Barclays Dubai Tennis Championship has proven over the last 18 years to be one of the best events on the ATP World Tour having won this award numerous times,” said Brad Drewett, CEO, ATP International.

“Its ongoing popularity is a testament to the hard-working tournament staff who have created a successful tournament that the best players in the world love to participate in,” he added.

“On behalf of the ATP, I congratulate Dubai on winning the ATP World Tour 500 Tournament of the Year and wish them even continued success for the future”.

The award is yet another on an increasingly-clustered mantelpiece for the Championships, which began life as the ATP Dubai Men’s Open back in 1993 when Karel Novacek was crowned the first winner.

Colm Mcloughlin, who was instrumental in bringing tennis to Dubai, was delighted to receive the award, and receive it on such a timely occasion. "As the owners and organisers of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, we are delighted to have won the ATP World Tour 500 Tournament of the Year award,” said McLoughlin.

“The ATP 500 events include some of the best tournaments in the world, so it is gratifying to know that all of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes has been acknowledged by the ATP players and officials.

“This year we celebrate the 18th anniversary of the ATP week and this award is especially appreciated as we mark the tournament's 'coming of age'".

Play at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, which is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, features the WTA final between Venus Williams and Victoria Azarenka on February 20th, and continues with the ATP tournament from February 22nd.

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