In December last year, Dubai was preparing to host its first-ever ITF Beach Tennis World Tour event. Fast forward three months and the organisers have said they would like to become a “winter hub” for the sport.

There’s no question that Dubai’s climate and relatively close proximity to Europe make it an ideal spot for the best players in the northern hemisphere to escape sub-zero temperatures in favour of sun, sea and sand.

But the addition of two BT10 and one BT50 event on the Beach Tennis World Tour calendar in December and January could just be a tipping point for the United Arab Emirates to welcome the best players from all over the world.

Slovakia’s Katerina Palenikova, who partnered Spain’s Marta Apraiz to the women’s title at the inaugural BT50 on 22-23 January, was delighted with how the event was run and praised the organisers for making the event happen at a time when the sporting calendar is being decimated by COVID-19.

“It’s incredible that Empower Sports Services managed to put together a tournament in these times and with all the precautions,” said Palenikova. “And that, at the moment, players are playing the tournaments where they can, as there are not many of them and also not many players can travel from their countries.

“This, however, didn’t affect the tournament because you have a strong local player base and there were lots of teams competing. And with the conditions in UAE - good weather and a central position - beach tennis can only attract more and more international players and grow."

Apraiz and Palenikova’s victory over top-seeded Russian duo of Ekaterina Kamenetckaia and Elena Koval 6-2 6-4 in the final was made all the sweeter for Spaniard Apraiz, who helped the event come to fruition.

She added: “Bringing the first BT50 to Dubai’s beaches was an amazing experience. We look forward to make Dubai a winter hub for beach tennis in the future.”

The men’s final of the BT50 saw world No. 3 Nikita Burmakin of Russia and Paolo Tronci of Italy overcome the Puerto Rican pairing of Vladimir Helmut and Javier Mendez 6-1 6-2.

Tronci was equally effusive about the conditions in which he clinched the most meaningful title to be contested on the Beach Tennis World Tour so far this year.

“I have travelled around the world playing ITF events,” explained Tronci. “I am extremely surprised by the high-quality organization, the quality of the sand, the crystal clear waters. It’s probably the best Beach Tennis venue I have ever been.”

Next up on the Beach Tennis World Tour is a BT50 and a BT10 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Play starts on 12 February.