The Dubai Tennis Championships, known as the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships for sponsorship reasons, is a prestigious professional tennis tournament held annually in February at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre in Dubai.
Founded in 1993, it features both men's and women's events under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The tournament is played on outdoor hard courts known for their medium-fast speed.
Tournament Structure
The men's event is an ATP Tour 500 tournament with a 32-player singles draw and $2.9 million in prize money. The women's competition is a WTA 1000 event featuring a larger 56-player singles draw and $3.2 million in prize money.Notable History
The tournament has attracted many tennis stars over the years, including Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams.A significant moment in the tournament's history occurred in 2009 when Israeli player Shahar Pe'er was denied entry to the UAE, resulting in a $300,000 fine from the WTA and policy changes for future editions.
Recent Champions
The 2024 champions are:- Men's Singles: Ugo Humbert
- Women's Singles: Jasmine Paolini
- Men's Doubles: Tallon Griekspoor/Jan-Lennard Struff
- Women's Doubles: Storm Hunter/Kateřina Siniaková
The tournament has become one of the most popular stops on both the ATP and WTA Tours, consistently selling out its stadium and offering extensive entertainment throughout its two-week duration.