Magician Extraordinaire Casts a Spell on Players at Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships

- Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic 'spellbound' at the player party in Dubai -

Dubai, UAE, March 6th, 2008: A magician and illusionist dazzled several of the world’s top tennis stars with his incredible tricks and mind-blowing illusions at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships men’s players party.

Dubai-based Felipe Scherson, originally from Chile, wowed players and guests at the exclusive player party held at the Aviation Club with various tricks including making coins appear and disappear from nowhere, flying-cards in the air and taking watches from people and making them appear in their pockets.

The gifted magician performed especially in Spanish for Spaniards Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco. Nadal also volunteered to take part in the illusions.

“He is amazing, just unbelievable,” said the former Barclays Dubai Tennis Champion.

Novak Djokovic was also taken by surprise when the magician miraculously turned a AED 10 note into a Serbian dinar.

“No way, I don’t know how he does it, it’s fantastic,” said a stunned Djokovic, who dressed in the traditional Arabic headpiece, ghotraa and kandura for the star-studded evening.

Britain’s Andy Murray was also spellbound by the magnificent magician who performed several coin tricks for the British number one.

Murray, who made his debut at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships this week, also participated in the traditional hand-prints ceremony where all new
players to Dubai have their handprints taken, which are then framed in a 'Hall of Fame' at the Dubai Tennis Stadium.

Although Andy Roddick had just finished playing on centre court, the American number one still found the time to jump on a camel as he passed through the party on the way to the change rooms.

The open-air event, organized by Dubai Duty Free, owners of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, included gourmet cuisine, entertainment in the form of the ‘Barclays Blues Band’, henna artist and a belly dancer.