Fujairah Tennis Festival makes perfect start with huge participation

The courts of Fujairah Tennis & Country Club came alive on Friday as the highly anticipated Mado Fujairah Tennis Festival officially got underway, sending a strong message of resilience, and sporting ambition despite the challenging situation.

Event taking place at the Fujairah Tennis & Country in association with UAE Tennis Federation is being held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah.

Running from Friday to May 17, the festival has already attracted 157 players representing more than 40 nationalities, underlining Fujairah’s growing reputation as one of the UAE’s emerging international tennis destinations.

Sheikh Dr. Rashed Bin Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Chairman of the Fujairah Authority for Culture and Chairman of the Fujairah Sports Club, said: “Fujairah is proving that tennis thrives even in challenging times—bringing together young talent, international stars, and the community to celebrate sport, resilience, and ambition.”

The tournament features 10 competitive categories designed to develop rising talent while celebrating elite and veteran competition. Young athletes are competing across Boys and Girls Under-12, Under-14, Under-16, and Under-18 divisions, while the event also showcases the Men’s Open, Women’s Open, and Masters 35+ categories.

Under the watchful eye of referee Laith Al Ani, the matches were held.

The tournament opened with the boys U-12 category. Top-seeded Yezid Baccouche of Tunisia comfortably advanced to the quarterfinals after an initial bye.

Ahmed Soliman advanced following a 6-0, 6-3 win against Shahryar Alimadadi, while Rafael Jurado defeated Vihaan Surve 6-3, 6-1. Akachukwu Uzokwe mirrored this efficiency, dismissing Yanzheng Wang 6-1, 6-1

Other notable advancements included Langdi Cao, who won 6-1, 6-0, and Adam Wild Ali, who progressed after his opponent retired while trailing 4-1.

The boys U-14 category saw some of the most lopsided victories of the festival. Adam Wild Ali, moving up an age group, delivered a double bagel 6-0, 6-0 victory over Alexander Alnasser. He was joined in the winner's circle by Abdulla Janahi and Kareem Zeineldin, both of whom also secured perfect 6-0, 6-0 wins.

The men’s Open champion will earn Dhs10,000, while the Women’s Open winner will receive Dhs5,000, alongside vouchers and trophies awarded across the various divisions. Organizers say the event is not only about competition, but about building a sustainable tennis culture in the emirate.

Over the past year, the emirate has rapidly transformed into a significant hub for the sport, hosting international ITF women’s championships, ATP Challenger events, and now one of the region’s most diverse grassroots festivals. Earlier in 2026, Fujairah hosted the prestigious W100 Fujairah tournament.