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A tennis court with a great view; just don't fall off the edge

by Jerry Guo on Aug 19th 2008 at 6:30PM

Last week, I wrote about the soon-to-be world's tallest skyscraper, being built in the heart of Dubai. Here's another outrageous sight. This used to be the helipad at the luxury Burj Al Arab hotel, temporarily converted into a tennis court for an exhibition match between Agassi and Federer.

"I have been in Dubai many times and have stayed at Burj Al Arab before, but this was an absolute treat," said Roger Federer of Switzerland. "To play tennis with Andre on top of such an amazing hotel and overlooking the whole of Dubai was absolutely spectacular."

The court is some 200 meters off the ground and covers 400 square meters, or about 8 times the size of my apartment in New York.

Filed under: United Arab

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Scott Carmichael Aug 19th 2008 7:51PM

I'd hate to be on the beach when one of those balls goes over the edge...

Secret Asian Man Aug 19th 2008 9:06PM

Good thing there's no beach directly underneath the platform. There's nothing but water.

The hotel sits n a man-made island/peninsula big enough for just the structure with only one land-bridge connecting it to mainland Dubai.

neil_metblogs Aug 20th 2008 2:20AM

The video of Agassi playing Federer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRkEuUWCwpg

Petri Aug 20th 2008 3:00AM

Actually the hotel main entrance is just below the helipad, though the shape of the hotel is curved so it really depends where the ball flies to. It could just hit the water, bounce from the hotel front somewhere, or fall at the hotel entrance and car park area. I'm pretty sure they moved the Rolls Royces and other cars elsewhere for the game ;-)

nzm Aug 20th 2008 4:51AM

It's fortunate too that, when Tiger Woods belted golf balls off the same helipad, he hit them into the gulf and not towards the beach!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/fun/photos/newsid_3529000/3529019.stm

Abha Aug 20th 2008 8:25AM

This was way back in 2005; a fantastic publicity stunt by the PR of the Burj Al Arab.

www.CelluliteQueen.com Aug 24th 2008 11:54PM

I am afraid of heights... once I stood on a chair to dust some shelves and needed to call my husband to help me back down! heehee! My playing tennis on that court will NEVER happen! Like, EVER! www.CelluliteQueen.com

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