The world’s best squash players will arrive in Dubai this week for the 2017 PSA Dubai World Series Finals

When you think ‘Dubai Opera’, the first thing that springs to mind probably isn’t ‘squash’. But that’s exactly what you’ll find this month, when the world’s best squash players will arrive in town for the 2017 PSA Dubai World Series Finals.

Taking place from June 6 to 10, it is the first sporting event to be held at the iconic building in Downtown Dubai, and will take place in a state-of-the-art glass court.

The top eight male and eight female squash players in the world will compete over five days, first in a round robin best-of-three series for a place in the knockout semi-finals. And if they win? There’s an equal purse prize of $160,000 (around Dhs587,000) in both the men’s and women’s tournaments.

So, who should I be keeping my eye on court-side?

France’s squash star, Camille Serme wowed fans during the Tournament of Champions and the US open, finishing ahead of current World No 1 Nour El Sherbini.

She’ll be the woman to watch going into the five-day tournament.

Camille Serme

Keep an eye out for the 2016 PSA Men’s Player Of The Year, Mohamed ElShorbagy. The Egyptian has six successive World Series title wins between 2015 and 2016, but 2017 has been a mixed bag. He’ll have something to prove in Dubai.

Marwan ElShorbagy

Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, Dubai, Tue to Thur, 3pm and 9.30pm, Fri and Sat 9.30pm, Dhs50 to Dhs350. Tel: (04) 4408888. Metro: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. dubaiopera.com

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Images: supplied