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UAE. The Dubai Duty Free Women’s Tennis Championships is one of the glamour tournaments on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) circuit – and a key event in the leading travel retailer’s sports marketing programme.
The Moodie Davitt Report Chairman Martin Moodie attended the final in Dubai on Saturday night, where Romanian Simona Halep overcame Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina in a three-set thriller.
It was a special night for Dubai Duty Free, which marked the 20th anniversary of the tournament, which takes place each year at its own tennis stadium.
Writing in The Moodie Blog, Martin notes: “The organisation is flawless, the weather balmy, the facilities first-class. It is remarkable to consider that Dubai Duty Free runs the whole event in-house and does it with all the flair and expertise that you would expect from a full-time sports event organiser.
“I caught up with Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin at the final and his sense of pride was unmistakable. It was his vision to create a tennis tournament (men’s and women’s) of global renown; to build an appropriate stadium; and to create the superb Irish Village that is nestled in the shadow of the stadium. This is a man who is revered by his team and in Dubai business and social circles, yet he remains as unassuming as he was when he set off on this remarkable journey 37 years ago.”
This week the men’s tournament begins, with world number one Novak Djokovic among the big names set to take part, and offering Dubai Duty Free a further opportunity to promote ‘Dubai Inc’ to the world.
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