The Height of a Good Tennis Match...

A friend from the Gulf recently emailed me these photos of a private tennis match between Andre Agassi and Roger Federer. I wish I could give credit to the photographer but as of this blog, he/she is unknown. While Agassi and Federer were in Dubai recently for the Dubai Duty Free Men's Open (which, incidentally, Federer won), they played tennis at the Burj al Arab Hotel, away from the crowds and noise of the stadium. In fact, they were away from literally everything...the "court" was the hotel's nearly 4,500 square foot helicopter pad, which sets near the top of the hotel tower, 692 feet in the air!

The Burj al Arab, one of the Jumeirah International Hotels, is one of the most fantastic hotels I've ever visited. It's unique exterior, designed by architect Thomas Wills Wright, imitates a billowing sail...it's lobby greets you with all the brilliance and warmth of bold Arabic colors, which are carried on into the suites. Contrary to what you may think, however, the suites are serene and relaxing, complete with amenities to meet your every need while you're in your temporary "home away from home" And, if something is missing, your personal butler, while out of sight so as not to intrude on your privacy, is close enough to satisfy your every whim. Before you fall asleep each evening, you can lie there, looking out over the Gulf waters, viewing the stars above. And, when you awake in the morning and look down from the edge of your bed, you see nothing but water...water, water...every where...what a refreshing way to greet the morning! This luxurious hotel is just a fantastic adventure in and of itself!

Jumeirah International has several hotels, and I've visited two others: the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, designed in the shape of a wave and adjacent to the Burj al Arab, but shoreside; and the Emirate Towers, offering a more business environment and located in downtown Dubai. But as wonderful as these hotels, and I'm sure their other sites are, the Burj al Arab is unrivalled, both in design and experience!

Hey, Agassi...

"Hey, Agassi...did you ever skip rocks when you were a kid?" Roger's turn to hit a ball...

Watch this...

"Watch this sucker sail!" Andre Agassi hitting a tennis ball off the "tennis court" at the Burj al Arab...

Strangest tennis court I've ever seen...

"This is the strangest tennis court I've ever played!" Andre Agassi and Roger Federer played tennis on the helicopter landing pad at the Burj al Arab in Dubai...

No crowds at this tennis match...

"Where are the crowds?!" If you look closely, you can see Roger Federer and Andre Agassi playing tennis on the helipad "court" at the top of the Burj al Arab in Dubai...don't know who won!