Davydenko sets sights on Capitala crown

Abu Dhabi : Nikolay Davydenko is confident his stunning end of season form will put him in a strong position to win the Capitala World Tennis Championship which starts next week.

Davydenko returns to the Abu Dhabi tournament for a second time and knows the confidence he has — along with the experience gained playing at the Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex — should put him among the top contenders to win the award-winning event.

Determination

With some time spent in the Maldives with his family recharging the batteries after winning the Barclays ATP World Tour finals earlier this month, the ice-cool Russian will arrive in the Capital brimming with determination and high expectations.

"After some time out I feel pretty refreshed and am now very much looking forward to getting back on the court again and returning to the form I showed towards the end of the season," said Davydenko, who fell in the semifinal to Rafael Nadal at the inaugural Abu Dhabi tournament earlier this year.

The top Russian captured five ATP World Tour titles in a season for second time in his career, capped by winning his biggest career title at the year-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London.

He finished in the top six for a fifth consecutive year and extended his streak of winning at least one title for seven seasons. He will now face a star-studded line-up of the world's best tennis talent in Abu Dhabi, including world No 1 and 2 Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Fast

Tickets for the showpiece tennis event, which runs from December 31 to January 2, are selling fast and can be purchased through www.boxofficeme.com and at selected Spinneys outlets.

Tickets are still available for Day 1, priced at Dh65.

As well as the on-court action, visitors can also enjoy a multitude of other activities at the Tennis Village including the Speed Serve challenge and player autograph signings.