Andy Murray enjoys time with family in Dubai ahead of tennis championships

British tennis player Andy Murray has been enjoying time with his family in Dubai, in between training sessions at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium this week ahead of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Relaxed and ready, Murray, has been taking in some of the emirate’s most famous sights with his young family in Dubai. Indeed, amid a packed early season schedule, father-of-four Murray revealed his joy at being able to capitalise on a half-term school break: “The kids are off this week, so they were able to come over,” he said. “It’s been part-training and part-holiday. We went to the aquarium at The Atlantis, watched the fountains outside the Burj Khalifa, and went to Miracle Gardens, which was good. We may go to one of the waterparks, but the kids are just loving being on the beach and in the pool – they are more than happy with that. It’s been really good.”

Andy Murray in good shape for shot at Dubai tennis title

Following three days of gruelling practice sessions on the venue’s centre court, Murray insists he is in good shape for another tilt at the Dubai title – a tournament he last won in 2017. “Practice has been brilliant,” said Murray, a former World No.1 and three-time Grand Slam winner, “The court was pretty much brand-new when we started, so I got some really good sessions in. The team here have been unbelievably helpful. It’s been great preparation for these next two weeks – I’ve loved it.” Fifteen years after his UAE debut, Murray was quick to highlight why the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships continue to feature so prominently on players’ annual schedules. “Everything has been super easy and smooth,” said the two-time Wimbledon champion. “The facilities are fantastic, great gyms – they’ve even got a gym just for the players to use now, which is really nice. The tournament has changed a lot since the first time I was here. I mean, the whole city has changed, but the tournament has evolved. With the hotel here on-site now, it is brilliant for the players; it’s so easy and convenient – you spend no time in cars, or traffic, or anything. You’re right here. “ “They always have brilliant food, great crowds, and lots of practice courts. I think the players have voted Dubai as one of the best ATP 500 events multiple times in the last 10 years or so, which says a lot. And each year the organisers keep improving it, so there’s really nothing to complain about,” Murray said. Now 35, Murray, who made history at the 2016 Olympic Games when he became the only player to win back-to-back gold medals in tennis singles, also reserved some special praise for Scotland’s rugby union team, which leads the Six Nations after thrilling wins against England and Wales. “Although I don’t follow rugby that closely, I’ve seen the results and winning against England is obviously huge for Scotland, then they won pretty comfortably against Wales. It seems like they’re probably the best Scotland team in quite a long time and they have a really good opportunity to win it,” he added. Murray joins a stellar Dubai field that includes World No.1 Novak Djokovic, who is chasing a sixth Dubai title, last year’s champion Andrey Rublev, 2021 US Open winner Daniil Medvedev, Olympic Gold medalist Alexander Zverev, and World No.8 Felix Auger-Aliassime, among others. The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships get underway this weekend with the women’s WTA 1000 event followed by the men’s ATP 500 tournament. Running from February 19 to March 4, both competitions will take place at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium. Tickets are on sale at dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com, starting from Dh55. Tickets are also available at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium Box Office between 9am and 9pm daily. ICA/Expat Media
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