Tennis legends Cedric Pioline and Jakob Hlasek battled it out at the…
Tennis legends Cedric Pioline and Jakob Hlasek battled it out at the Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, in an exciting exhibition match marking the official launch of the Fujairah Country Club and Tennis Stadium.
Held under the patronage of Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, President of Fujairah Country Club & Tennis Stadium, the match was watched by more than 300 spectators, including prominent local players, their friends and families and government officials.
Commenting on the honor of being chosen as the venue for this exciting launch event, Patrick Antaki, general manager, Le Meridien Al Aqah said, “This event is a world-class celebration of sport, centered on the launch of this outstanding facility and Le Meridien Al Aqah is proud to host such talented players and be associated with these exciting developments on the East Coast.”
“Today’s exhibition match celebrates the launch of a world-class venue in a world-class city,” said Abdul Ghafoor Behroozian, Chairman of Fujairah Country Club and Tennis Stadium. “The club’s state-of-the-art facilities will give athletes on the East Coast the very best opportunity to realize their potential and compete on the world stage.”
With the support of Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah and Member of the UAE Supreme Council, this landmark East Coast project is funded by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence.
The club will include six full-fledged international standard tennis courts and the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Tennis Stadium, with a capacity for more than 3,000 spectators.
Pioline was the first Frenchman to reach the Wimbledon final in 1997, since 1946. He also reached finals at the U.S. Open and was a Davis Cup champion for France.
Hlasek’s career highlights include the Davis Cup Final in 1992 with the Swiss Team and the World Doubles Title in 1990. He won seven professional singles titles and his highest ranking was N°7 in the World and Swiss N°1. He also played in three Olympics.
“The phenomenal turnout this evening is very encouraging and we look forward to welcoming sports enthusiasts from across the region looking to play their game in a relaxed, stress-free environment, to the new facility once it opens,” added Behroozian.
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