Students Learn the Math of Draws at the Dubai Tennis Championships

Dubai, UAE, February 22nd, 2007: Students from the Dubai International Academy were treated to a unique lesson at the Dubai Tennis Championships, escaping the classroom to learn first-hand the link between mathematics and a tennis tournament.

Gathering in a room under the Dubai Tennis Stadium grandstands, the Grade 10 advanced math class discussed the elements of a tournament and learnt the art of making a draw from Hany El Khafief, the Chief of Umpires at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Teacher Huneza Usman, whose love for tennis has permeated to her students, worked with El Khafief to put together the practical lesson plan.

She said: “I’ve been coming to the tournament for 13 years, and I was trying to find a way to tie it into math. I looked through math books and saw an exercise section on knockout competitions. I contacted the Dubai Tennis Championships about doing a lesson on draws, and Hany came up with a great plan.”

Gemma Curtis, a student in Usman’s class, received the comprehensive Dubai Tennis Championships experience. She joined her classmates for the math lesson in between her stint as a ball girl for the tournament, which included a late night on centre court for the three-set marathon between Selima Sfar and Ai Sugiyama.

“It’s good because you don’t get this knowledge every day – finding out how they do the draws,” said the 14-year-old Curtis. “Even if you’re a ball kid, you’ll never really know how they did it, so this is a better way of finding out. I think it will be a challenge, and we’re learning a lot.”

Usman has prepared a list of questions for her students to apply their new knowledge upon returning to the classroom. One of the exercises will require students to figure out how many matches are needed for a 23-player draw and to place the athletes accordingly so that the fifth and sixth seeds meet in the semifinals.

The class began the morning with a full tour of the Dubai tennis grounds, including the exclusive Aviation Clubhouse, as El Khafief detailed the various elements of the tournament at each stop. Following their lesson, they enjoyed the afternoon’s matches.

The Dubai Tennis Championships is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free and takes place under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

For further information: John Rynehart, Promoseven Sports Marketing,
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