Novak Djokovic is having the best time of his life once again. The Serb is currently preparing for the 2020 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships starting next week. Some exciting news has come his way which means he will soon get another prize he can enjoy for the next ten years of his life.
Novak’s achievements and rise to the summit of tennis is well-documented already. The amazing and preposterous things he pulls-off on the tennis courts, the titles he wins is hardly news anymore. But now he will soon have his hands on a nice little gift off the court as well.
The gold card visa club
The ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is a huge fan of sports. This led to the decision of issuing gold card resident visas to the supreme athletic talents of the world, past and present by the UAE cabinet.
And Djokovic will soon be given one, meaning by the time he is playing on the courts in Dubai, he will be a resident of the nation.
This gold card visa initiative started off this very month. Last Thursday UAE presented this gold card 10-year visa to the superstar of football, Cristiano Ronaldo. Many other footballers have since been included in the exclusive list.
And now Novak Djokovic too will join the prestigious list that includes the likes of Luis Figo, Didier Drogba, Eric Abidal. Other than Djokovic, Roger Federer is expected to join the list in the near future as well.
Novak Djokovic before Federer
The special visa is given to talented professionals from a range of fields, who have an influence over society. It grants a residency of 5 or 10 years to it’s holders, while the general residence visa is valid only for two years.
It is perhaps surprising that Roger hasn’t gotten one already. The Swiss maestro loves Dubai and often goes there to practice in his off-time and even invites other players along.
He gets all the peace and quiet in Dubai to concentrate on tennis, and the absence of rain is an added advantage.
The Dubai Open falls under the ATP 500 category event and will begin on February 17. Apart from the 500 ATP points, the winner will also win a prize money of a whopping $565,705.
It will also mark Novak’s first competitive appearance since he lifted his 17th Grand Slam title at the start of the month. Joining Nole in the event are huge names like Federer, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Gael Monfils and many more.
Federer is the defending champion of the event having beaten Tsitsipas in the final last year. Djokovic last won the title in 2013 and will look to add that to his tally of the season.
In other exciting news about the event, Kim Clijsters will make her tennis comeback there too.
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic gets UAE 10-year Gold Card visa
Serbian tennis star and the World No.1 Novak Djokovic joined list of elite sports persons who have been given a 10-year Gold Card visa by the UAE.
World No.1 Djokovic will come to the country next week to play at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships not only as players but also as a resident.
Other big names from the sporting fraternity, who have been granted the Gold Card Visa includes the likes of Luis Figo, Paul Pogba, Roberto Carlos, Romalu Lukaku and Miralem Pjanic, who is a team-mate of Ronaldo at Juventus.
The resolution to grant a gold visa to the top athletes of the world was passed in the beginning of the month during a cabinet meeting, which was headed by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Meanwhile, Djokovic will make a welcome return to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships next week in a bid to reclaim the title he last won in 2013.
The reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champion joins a stellar field that includes eight-time champion Roger Federer, who in winning last year claimed his 100th career singles title.
Also bidding for the title will be 2019 finalist and ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas and 2018 Dubai winner Roberto Bautista Agut.
“We are thrilled to welcome Novak Djokovic back to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships,” said Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free.
