Dubai: Frenchman Gael Monfils is eagerly looking forward to his debut in Abu Dhabi at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship (December 29-31) following an encouraging 2011 ATP World Tour season.
"This is my first time ever in Abu Dhabi. I've heard so much about the tournament and cannot wait to see the emirate, enjoy the atmosphere and get my season started.
"For me there is no bigger way to start the season, testing myself against the very best on Day 1 with a winner takes-all prize and a player line-up that includes my main rivals in 2012. This type of challenge is the very reason I play the game and I'm ready for it," he said.
The flamboyant world number 15 knows he will have to be quick off the mark on day one at the International Tennis Complex at Zayed Sports City as he goes head to head against Serbian world number one Novak Djokovic who will also be playing in Abu Dhabi for the first time.
Having previously been narrowly beaten by Djokovic during some epic encounters at the later stages of some the game's biggest tournaments including the 2010 US Open quarter-finals, the quarter-finals of both the 2011 Rogers Cup and the Western &South Open in Cincinnati, Monfils is looking forward to the challenge of taking on the Serb in front of a packed centre court stadium in Abu Dhabi.
"At the start of the season it's all about early momentum and getting up to full speed as quick as possible. I certainly have that opportunity in Abu Dhabi considering I'm playing the World Number 1 on day one with victory setting me up to face Roger Federer on day two. I couldn't think of a better way to test my form and prepare for one of my favourite tournaments of the year, the Australian Open," said the 25-year-old.
The Monfils versus Djokovic clash is part of a strong opening day line-up. Ahead of the long-awaited debuts from the French and Serbian icons, the opening match on Day 1 of this year's Mubadala World Tennis Championship also sees Spain's world number five David Ferrer takes on close rival and French crowd favourite world number six Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
