Commentator Mercer gets nostalgic about Dubai event
dubai — Well-known tennis commentator David Mercer gets nostalgic when you ask him about Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
After all, it’s an event the former Wimbledon chair umpire has commentated on since the very beginning. Now the tournament is celebrating its 25 glorious years and Mercer says he clearly remembers the first year — 1993 — when he commentated from Paris for Eurosport. “I didn’t come here for the first year. I did the commentary from Paris for Eurosport. Of course, the first final was postponed because of rain and sandstorm,” Mercer told Khaleej Times.
“Then I was lucky enough to come here for the second edition. And it was right after the Australian Open. I got the last flight from Melbourne to Singapore, then flew from Singapore to Colombo and then from Colombo to Dubai and got here at 7 in the morning and play started at 2. So I had about three hours to get some sleep before starting my work,” remembered Mercer who umpired the 1984 Wimbledon men’s final between John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors.
“So that was an interesting experience. Obviously there was no stadium and we have to climb up some ladders to get to the commentary box. But straightaway you got the feeling that this event was going to be good. “And then obviously the next big thing was the creation of the stadium itself. It has made a huge difference in my mind because it’s slightly oval, everybody has a good view. And when you get a packed stadium here the atmosphere is just tremendous.”
According to the celebrated commentator, the greatest game of tennis in the Dubai tournament came in the women’s event, not in the men’s event. “Obviously you remember the great matches. And the one that absolutely stands out for me was the 2003 women’s final here between (Justine) Henin and Monica (Seles),” he said.
“It was probably the best women’s match I have ever seen in my life. Seles had match points, but Henin won (4-6 7-6 7-5). It had such drama, you know. And it was fantastic because it was so close right up to that last point. “Then (Roger) Federer has played some amazing matches in this tournament against (Novak) Djokovic, (Rafael)) Nadal and (Andy) Murray.”
The Dubai tournament has been voted 11 times by the players as the world’s best 500 series event.
“The players love coming here. They love the way it’s organized, the way they are looked after. It has become a major stopping point on the calendar. So it’s a terrific achievement,” Mercer said.