UAE Royals
{{short description|Former tennis team in Dubai}}
{{About|a former tennis team in Dubai|royal families in the UAE|Royal families of the United Arab Emirates}}
{{Infobox sports team
|team = UAE Royals
|logo = UAE Royals International Premier Tennis League Team logo.png
|pixels = 140px
|sport = Team tennis
|founded = {{start date|2014}}
|current = 2015 UAE Royals season
|folded = 2016
|league = International Premier Tennis League
|division =
|history = 2014–2016
|arena =
|ballpark =
|stadium = Dubai Duty Free Stadium
|city = Dubai, United Arab Emirates
|colors = Black, Red, Green, Metallic Gold
{{Color box|#000000}} {{Color box|#FF0000}} {{Color box|green}} {{Color box|#D4AF37}}
|owner = Neelesh Bhatanagar, Sachin Gadoya and Virat Kohli
|gm =
|coach = John-Laffnie de Jager
|championships =
|division_titles =
|playoff_berths =
|cheerleaders =
|dancers =
|mascot =
|broadcasters = Abu Dhabi Media
|media =
|website = {{URL|www.uaeroyals.com}}
}}
The UAE Royals were a tennis team based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates that competed in the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) from its inception in 2014 until the league's final season in 2016. It is one of four charter franchises that participated in the IPTL's inaugural 2014 season where it finished as runners-up. The team started its 2015 season with marquee signings in Roger Federer and Ana Ivanovic.
Team history
=Founding of franchise=
On 21 January 2014, IPTL announced that one of the charter franchises for the league's inaugural 2014 season would be based in the Middle East.{{cite web|title=Mahesh Bhupathi Launched IPTL in Melbourne|url=http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/mahesh-bhupathi-launched-iptl-in-melbourne-1390393112-1|date=22 January 2014|website=Jagran Josh|access-date=17 November 2014}}{{cite web|title=Mumbai One of the Franchises in Cash-Rich International Premier Tennis League|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mumbai-one-of-the-franchises-in-cashrich-international-premier-tennis-league/446899-5-22.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121203843/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mumbai-one-of-the-franchises-in-cashrich-international-premier-tennis-league/446899-5-22.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 January 2014|date=21 January 2014|website=CNN IBN Live|access-date=17 November 2014}} On 2 March 2014, IPTL revealed that the Middle East franchise would play its home matches in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.{{cite web|last1=Briggs|first1=Simon|title=Andy Murray Signs for Bangkok As Premier Tennis League Prepares for Take-Off|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/andymurray/10671811/Andy-Murray-signs-for-Bangkok-as-Premier-Tennis-League-prepares-for-take-off.html|date=2 March 2014|website=The Telegraph|access-date=18 November 2014}} The team is owned by Neelesh Bhatnagar,{{Cite web|title = Roger Federer joins UAE Royals in IPTL {{!}} News {{!}} Philippine Mavericks {{!}} Philstar.com|url = http://www.philstar.com/sports/tennis/philippinemavericks/news/2015/09/11/1498564/roger-federer-joins-uae-royals-iptl|website = philstar.com|access-date = 2015-09-21}} a leading Dubai-based businessman, and Sachin Gadoya, managing director of Musafir.com, an Internet-based travel agency. Indian cricketer Virat Kohli was also introduced as the co-owner of the franchise on September 10, 2015.{{cite press release|url=http://www.iptlworld.com/pdf/IPTL-Owners%20announced.pdf|title=Get Together at Wimbledon with Announcement of Team Owners for India, Singapore, Manila and UAE|publisher=International Premier Tennis League|date=19 June 2014|access-date=24 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129062829/http://www.iptlworld.com/pdf/IPTL-Owners%20announced.pdf|archive-date=29 November 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Ousman|first1=Allaam|title=Djokovic Leads UAE Royals at Inaugural IPTL: Dubai Will Host Finale of $1 Million Tournament from December 11–13|url=http://www.emirates247.com/sports/local/djokovic-leads-uae-royals-at-inaugural-iptl-2014-06-25-1.554192|date=25 June 2014|website=Emirates 24/7|access-date=19 November 2014}}
=Inaugural draft=
The Dubai franchise participated in the IPTL inaugural draft on 2 March 2014, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Players selected by Dubai were
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
!style="background:black; color:#D4AF37" width="350px"| Player !style="background:black; color:#D4AF37" width="150px"| IPTL Category | |
| colspan=2; style="text-align:center; background:#89CFF0" | Men | |
| {{flagicon|SRB}} Novak Djokovic ({{langx|sr|Новак Ђоковић}}) | Icon players |
| {{flagicon|SRB}} Janko Tipsarević ({{langx|sr|Јанко Типсаревић}}) | Category D |
| {{flagicon|CRO}} Goran Ivanišević | Past champions |
| {{flagicon|SRB}} Nenad Zimonjić ({{langx|sr|Ненад Зимоњић}}) | Doubles players |
| {{flagicon|TUN}} Malek Jaziri ({{langx|ar|مالك الجزيري}}) | Uncategorized |
| colspan=2; style="text-align:center; background:pink" | Women | |
| {{flagicon|DEN}} Caroline Wozniacki | Icon players |
| {{flagicon|SUI}} Martina Hingis | Category C |
=Team name=
By May 2014, the team was being referred to as the UAE Falcons.{{cite web|title=Bhupathi's IPTL Opener Moved to Manila from Bangkok|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tennis/top-stories/Bhupathis-IPTL-opener-moved-to-Manila-from-Bangkok/articleshow/34930784.cms|date=10 May 2014|website=The Times of India|access-date=19 November 2014}} By June 2014, the Falcons had become known as the UAE Royals.
=Home venue=
The UAE Royals will play their home matches at the Dubai Duty Free Stadium{{Cite web|title = Roger Federer Joins UAE Royals for 2015 International Tennis Premier League|url = http://sports.ndtv.com/tennis/news/248365-roger-federer-joins-uae-royals-for-2015-international-tennis-premier-league|website = NDTVSports.com|access-date = 2015-09-21|first = Indo-Asian News|last = Service}} for the 2015 season. The team played their home matches at the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Sports Complex during the first season of the league.
=First coach=
On 27 October 2014, John-Laffnie de Jager was named the Royals' first coach.{{cite web|title=International Premier Tennis League Announces Coaches for Inaugural Edition|url=http://spicystarsmumbai.com/international-premier-tennis-league-announces-team-coaches-for-inaugural-edition.html|website=Spicy Stars Mumbai|date=28 October 2014|access-date=24 November 2014}}
=Inaugural season=
{{Main|2014 UAE Royals season}}
The Royals opened their inaugural season with a road match on 28 November 2014, against the Manila Mavericks in Pasay, Metropolitan Manila, Philippines. It played its first home match on 11 December 2014, also against the Mavericks.{{cite web|title=Schedule|url=http://www.iptlworld.com/schedule.html|website=International Premier Tennis League|access-date=24 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141123102308/http://www.iptlworld.com/schedule.html|archive-date=23 November 2014}}
Television coverage
On 22 August 2014, IPTL announced it had reached an agreement for the Middle East and North Africa television broadcasting rights with Abu Dhabi Media.{{cite web|last1=Gomes|first1=Alaric|title=Eugenie Bouchard Joins the Dubai Bandwagon|url=http://gulfnews.com/sport/tennis/eugenie-bouchard-joins-the-dubai-bandwagon-1.1375263|date=22 August 2014|website=Gulf News|access-date=24 November 2014}} The rights continue with Abu Dhabi Media for 2015 season.
Former roster
| class="wikitable"
! Player |
| {{flagicon|SUI}} Martina Hingis |
| {{flagicon|SRB}} Ana Ivanovic |
| {{flagicon|CRO}} Marin Čilić |
| {{flagicon|CRO}} Goran Ivanišević |
| {{flagicon|CZE}} Tomáš Berdych |
| {{flagicon|CAN}} Daniel Nestor |
| {{flagicon|FRA}} Kristina Mladenovic |
{{Portal|Tennis|United Arab Emirates|United Arab Emirates}}
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- {{official website}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140928082307/http://www.iptlworld.com/ International Premier Tennis League official website]
{{IPTL}}
Category:International Premier Tennis League teams
Category:Sports clubs and teams established in 2014