
As one of the hottest tickets on the London summer social calendar, tennis stars including world No.1 Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Petra Kvitova, Eugenie Bouchard, Simona Halep, Heather Watson and Laura Robson joined famous personalities from the worlds of sport, entertainment and fashion including Sir Richard, Sam and Holly Branson, Natalie Pinkham, Ade Adepitan, Charlie Webster and Perri Shakes-Drayton at the exclusive party held by the Women's Tennis Association.
Sir Richard Branson, a WTA Global Advisory Council Member, co-hosted the exclusive event on behalf of Virgin and said, "What an amazing night. It is inspiring to be surrounded by so many incredible female athletes just before they hit SW19. I have been a great supporter of the WTA for many years and we've even successfully battled for equal prize money! So it's great just to simply celebrate these wonderful women who excel at my favourite sport."
Colm McLoughlin, Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice-Chairman commented, "The WTA Pre-Wimbledon Party has rapidly become one of the most glamorous events in the Dubai Duty Free social calendar. It provides us with an excellent opportunity to celebrate and promote our close association with the sport and renew friendships and acquaintances with many of the players and tennis professionals we will be welcoming back for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in February."
Stars arrived in style in a stunning fleet of Jaguar XE cars and treated fans in the new fan zone to photographs and autographs before walking the unique bio-reactive purple carpet, created by Jaguar, which used motion sensor technology to capture and visualise, in real-time, the energy from the exclusive event.
Inside the party, players and guests were treated to two refreshing Cîroc cocktails, including Cîroc signature serve Blue Stone, made with vanilla syrup, lemon juice and topped with soda and Cîroc Rocs made with Grand Marnier, lime juice, apple juice and topped with soda. VIP guests also indulged in a range of canapés which included Scottish lobster coated with a taramasalata infused with tarragon in a savoury profiterole and falafels with pomegranate salsa & spiced beetroot hummus.