DDF event altered UAE landscape
dubai — It was in the early 1990s that Jeff Chapman, who used to make TV programmes for sports lovers, came to Colm McLoughlin with an idea that changed the UAE’s sporting landscape.
McLoughlin, the Dubai Duty Free executive vice-chairman, had told Khaleej Times in a recent interview that Chapman approached him for staging a tennis exhibition match featuring Martina Navratilova in Dubai.
That exhibition match never happened but Chapman’s proposal inspired McLoughlin to dream big.
Eventually, they started a full ATP tournament in 1993 and because the first proposal for an international tennis event came from Chapman, McLoughlin made him the tournament director. So Chapman was the first tournament director of the multiaward winning Dubai Duty Free Tennis championships and he held that position for eight years, helping the championships grow in stature.
Now as the championship is celebrating its 25th year, Chapman got nostalgic when we asked about something he built from scratch with his Dubai Duty Free friends.
“It gives me a great sense of achievement. I love building things and we started this from scratch, from zero, we didn’t have any courts; we just had been awarded an event,” Chapman told us after being felicitated by Dubai Duty Free on Wednesday.
“The sense of being able to do something brick by brick that has lasted and not only lasted but has proven to be an international sporting icon gives me great satisfaction.” Chapman then paid the ultimate tribute to an event that has gone on to win ATP awards.
“It’s not an evolution. I would rather call it a revolution. The improvement made by this tournament over the years is unbelievable. This tournament just keeps improving. It still has its soul, its generosity and it’s such a big attraction to the people of Dubai and the UAE and it just keeps improving and getting better every year,” he said.
“The passion is incredible and so is the support of the media and officials. And the Dubai Duty Free people are like a big family and they celebrate the fact that they are able to build a world-class event from scratch,” he added.
Chapman believes the Dubai event will continue to grow in future. “This event will continue to improve because everybody is so committed to improve this event every year. In my view, it’s already among the best tennis tournaments in the world,” he said.
“Obviously it’s hard to displace Wimbledon, Roland Garros, US Open and the Australian Open. But this event will continue to improve and continue to be a leading event for Dubai and the UAE.” said Chapman, who now lives in Australia.
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com