Abu Dhabi-based tennis prodigy Kareem Allaf is hoping to be a hitting partner for the world’s top stars when they land in the UAE for the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in January.

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Speaking to Sport360, Allaf also expressed his concerns that there is not enough tennis being played in the Middle East and outlined his hope that the game can continue to develop in the UAE and the wider region.

Allaf, 16, won the Dubai ITF Junior Championships at the start of November, his first ITF title, and the Syrian is one of the brightest prospects playing out of the UAE.

With his star continuing to rise, Allaf is hoping that a trip to January's tournament in Mubadala will yield some playing time with some of the sport's current greats. 

“I will go [to Mubadala] to watch and try to be a hitting partner there,” Allaf told Sport360.

Born in America, Allaf came to the UAE as a four-year-old and first took up the sport two years after his arrival.

A further 10 years on and Allaf is desperate to build on his most recent success and see the sport develop around him in the Emirates.

“I think there needs to be more tennis and it needs to improve more,” Allaf said. “There needs to be more tournaments but I think [tennis] is getting better [in the UAE].”

While Allaf’s immediate future lies in Abu Dhabi with his new coach, Walid Jallali, the youngster hopes to continue his tennis development in the USA next year, where he plans to go to college.

“It is tough balancing both school and tennis but I’m managing,” added Allaf who has been with Jallali at the NSS Tennis Academy for a month and is enjoying the early stages of their working relationship.

“[Jallali] is very good. He has been working with me mentally and more tactically.

“He has been helping me a lot and before [the Dubai final] he gave me some tips and kept supporting me. He gave me some tips during games and when I was under pressure he took me out of it.”

Jallali, who was a former professional himself and also works with world No. 80 Malek Jaziri, is equally pleased with how things are working out with his latest recruit.

“Working with Kareem Allaf is a pleasure for me,” said Jallali. “Kareem is a very talented player, he has so many qualities. There is always something to work on and the coach needs to know what the player needs.

“The difference is the mental and tactical [aspects] and the way you prepare for the tournaments.”