Victoria Azarenka one of the top female tennis players in the world, took time out in Dubai recently to play with a number of aspiring tennis champions at the Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa
Belarusian player, Victoria Azarenka,who was in Dubai for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 2011, delighted youngsters at the Habtoor Tennis Academy by spending a whole day coaching them.
The world number 9 tennis star, arrived in the city on February 7 and chose to stay at the Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa. Whilst there she also partnered with the group’s Chairman Khalaf Al Habtoor on the tennis court.
A passionate player of the sport for many years, Mr Khalaf commented on Victoria’s arrival: “I am excited to welcome Victoria to our property and partner with her on the tennis court. Our hotel brought good luck for Novak in Australia and I hope it will do the same for Victoria here in Dubai”. The tennis star was the first player to arrive in the UAE for the Dubai Open. She lost on the 3rd round to the 11th seed Flavia Pennetta from Italy.
The Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa has become a favourite venue in Dubai for tennis stars. The hotel recently hosted the Serbian world number 3 and Australian open two-times winner Novak Djokovic. Maria Kirilenko, Ana Ivanovic and Vera Zvonareva also stay there when they come to Dubai.