ABU DHABI // The big names in world tennis squared off in the capital on Thursday – Ferrer, Murray, Jned …
The hitout was a dream come true for Ghaith Jned, 13, who came face to face with tennis royalty at Zayed Sports City.
“I feel like I am king, I am playing with the number one in the world,” said Ghaith, 13, an aspiring tennis star from Syria.
“Not everyone can play with him, not everyone. Many people hope to play with him, but they can’t.”
Ghaith is one of about 80 young tennis players from Abu Dhabi and Dubai who won the chance to meet and train with the world’s top tennis stars after taking part in Mubadala’s Community Cup Clinic.
Although the Syrian teen did not play Spanish number one Rafael Nadal, who will meet a different group today, he was able to team up with one of his compatriots, David Ferrer.
The youths were selected based on their high standing in the cup, a one-day tennis tournament held last month.
It is offered as part of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, a three-day competition featuring six of the world’s top-ranked players, which started on Thursday.
“It’s really a chance for them to be able to see their role models live, to have a chance to play with them and be inspired,” said Vickie Gunnarsson, the event director.
“What we really want to do is use them as a platform to reach out to the community and get people active, especially among the youth, to tackle obesity and diabetes and get people moving and promote a healthy lifestyle in the UAE.
“Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, for example, are great role models in leading that healthy lifestyle. So we want to bring their lifestyle closer to the attention of the children.”
On the opening day the children were matched against Ferrer, third in the world rankings, and this year’s Wimbledon champion, Andy Murray. The Scot is ranked fourth.
Each player spent an hour rallying with the youths, playing in teams of two so the youngsters had a chance to perform across the net from their idols and beside them.
“He kept saying if you hit a good shot, ‘Oh, that’s great,’ and he would look at you and smile, thumbs up,” said Indian Simran Kaur, 16, who lives in Dubai.
“If you missed he said, ‘It’s all right, next point.’ It’s just really encouraging. It makes you want to do well next time.”
After the match, the young players crowded around Ferrer and inundated him with questions ranging from his training technique to his favourite food – paella.
“I like that he [Ferrer] took time to talk to us,” said Dubai resident Simran Noronha, 17, from India. “He told us how much he takes care before every tournament and how he trains.
“I learnt a lot about mental toughness and how important it is in a match and before the match especially, and it’s really important to not think about winning or losing. It’s just you can give it your best, that’s all you can do.
“He’s really nice, he has a really good heart and he takes time to actually help other players, so that’s really nice.”
Ghaith’s father, Mohannad Jned, 40, who owns a tennis school in Abu Dhabi, said it was a thrill to see his students, and his son, take on their tennis heroes.
“You know this thing for them, it’s a big chance and it’s really like a dream because when I was in his age I never got this chance,” said Mr Jned. “I never even dreamed to meet these stars face to face. It gives them a big boost.”
Sushant Satish, 13, who just returned from India where he played in the CBSE Nationals competition, said meeting Murray was an exhilarating experience.
“To play against the legends, it’s always a dream come true,” said the Dubai resident, 13. “It was a good experience because it’s not every day that you can play with them.
“Mubadala provides a very good opportunity to play with them, rally and ask them questions about how they practise.”
Sushant’s father, T C Satish, said the experience was also a thrill for parents.
“It’s a dream come true, not just for him but for me too,” said Dr Satish, a dermatologist. “To see one of the biggest stars in action partnering with my son and sometimes playing against my son, it’s a fantastic feeling.”
The clinics, which are free to watch, resume today with Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka taking to the court at 10am, followed by Nadal an hour later. Both clinics take place at the practice court.
Although Nadal didn’t play on Thursday he still drew a large crowd, with hundreds of fans lining up – some for nearly two hours – to get his autograph.
“I can’t even talk right now,” said an excited Ferzana Nizar, 48, after meeting the Spanish champ during the autograph session.
“I told him, ‘I want you to win all four Grand Slams this year’,” said the expatriate, who drove from Dubai. “He said, ‘I’ll try’.”
rpennington@thenational.ae
