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| (E) Goran guns for second crown |
| By Nenad N. Bach |
Published
01/29/2002
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Sports
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Unrated
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(E) Goran guns for second crown
Gulf News; Jan 27, 2002
BY A CORRESPONDENT
Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic is set to return to Dubai next month in a
bid to claim his second singles title at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Winner in 1996, the popular Croat came close to repeating his success the
following year, but had to be content with the runner-up position.
Now, inspired by his fairytale Wimbledon triumph, Ivanisevic will once more
attempt to become the first player to win the Dubai Duty Free Men's Open for
a second time.
"Goran is one of our most popular former champions and we're delighted that
he is returning for the 10th anniversary staging of the Dubai Duty Free Men's
Open," said Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, the owners
and organisers of the $1million tournament.
"Goran last played in Dubai in 1997 and was at that time one of the most
popular players we'd ever had, thanks to his winning combination of
athleticism and personality," McLoughlin added. "But he has been through so
much and achieved so much in the four years since then that he returns to
Dubai in 2002 as one of the all time greats of the game."
A year ago, Ivanisevic was in despair and seemingly on his way out of tennis.
He was forced to play in the qualifying event at the Australian Open, and
lost in the first round on a battleground so far from the show courts that he
needed a map to find it.
"It was the furthest court you could imagine," he said. "Nothing there. Next
stop is the railway station!" Then, for the first time in 10 years he played
a modest Challenger event, reached the final, and his rehabilitation was
underway.
A few months later he had achieved his greatest ambition, lifting the
Wimbledon trophy after denying home favourite Tim Henman - who will also play
in Dubai next month - in the semifinal and Australia's Patrick Rafter in that
memorable final last July.
Ivanisevic doesn't now have to fight the inner demons that once tormented him
to such an extent that he once smashed all his racquets and had to default a
match. Now, his greatest challenge comes from an ailing shoulder.
"It's not good, you know. It hurts, but I'm playing until I feel like I
cannot play any more," he said, knowing that if he does undergo surgery for a
rotator cuff injury then it would mean the end of his career.
That can't happen yet, for despite his Wimbledon win there is still much he
wants to do. His many fans in Dubai can be grateful that one of those
ambitions is to once more hold the beautiful silver Dhow trophy that goes to
the winner.
Held under the patronage of General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence, the Dubai Tennis Championships
runs from February 18 to March 3 with the back-to-back staging of the Dubai
Duty Free Women's Open and the Dubai Duty Free Men's Open.
Tickets are on sale daily from 10am to 9pm at Dubai Tennis Stadium's north
stand box office.
World Reporter All Material Subject to Copyright
Wimbledon supremo set to return
Gulf News; Jan 22, 2002
BY A CORRESPONDENT
The Dubai Tennis Championships has won a glowing seal of approval from top
Wimbledon official Alan Mills.
Mills, who has been the Wimbledon referee since 1982, will be reunited with
reigning Wimbledon champions Goran Ivanisevic and Venus Williams when he
returns to officiate at next month's Dubai Tennis Championships. Both
Ivanisevic and Williams are star draws in the February 18-March 3.
Familiar to millions of TV viewers around the world as the man peering
anxiously for rain clouds from the corner of the All England Club's legendary
Centre Court, Mills made his debut as Chief of Umpires in Dubai last year and
is looking forward to returning in 2002.
"My memories of last year are the weather and the beautiful Centre Court," he
said, speaking from Melbourne where he is officiating at the Australian Open.
"As well as the unique facilities, the tournament's organisation also
impressed Mills. He reserved special praise for "the friendliness and
professionalism of everybody involved with the tournament."
"I got on very well with the officials and look forward to coming back and
working with them again," said Mills, whose role will again be to ensure that
all runs smoothly, from the eve-of-tournament draw to the finals.
Commenting on Mills's return to Dubai, Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of
Dubai Duty Free, said: "The Dubai Tennis Championships is the Middle East's
premier tennis tournament and over the 10 years of the men's tournament and
for the inaugural women's event in 2001, we have attracted our fair share of
Grand Slam champions and world number ones.
"But our officials are also the cream of the crop, and to have someone of
Alan's calibre not only to come here, but to complement the tournament, is
tremendously rewarding. We look forward to welcoming him back in 2002."
The Dubai Tennis Championships, held under the patronage of General Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of
Defence, runs from February 18 to March 3.
Tickets are on sale daily from 10am to 9pm at Dubai Tennis Stadium's north
stand box office.
Information about the event is available from 971 4 316 6966 or
www.dubaitennischampionships.com.
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