Abu Dhabi: Stanislas Wawrinka is hoping next month’s Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi will be the springboard to a successful defence of his Australian Open title.
Wawrinka will be making his third appearance at the season-opening tournament at Zayed Sports City Tennis Stadium, which aims to replicate the conditions in Melbourne, the venue for the first grand slam of the year.
He enjoyed an ‘annus mirabilis’ in 2014, beating defending champion Novak Djokovic and the then World No 1 Rafael Nadal en route to Australian Open success.
The Swiss star continued this scintillating form by reaching the quarter-finals of Wimbledon and the US Open and the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals. Then, last month, he teamed up with Roger Federer to help Switzerland secure their first Davis Cup title.
The 29-year-old is eager to maintain this momentum at the Abu Dhabi tournament and beyond, commenting: “2014 was a very special year for me, capturing my first grand slam, and it started for me in Abu Dhabi so it was an easy decision for me to come back in 2015. We have the chance to play the best players and get ready for the new season and for me, it seemed to work well last year.
“Of course, I hope I can go on from Abu Dhabi and have success in Melbourne again and I will be putting 100 per cent into my matches to help me prepare as best I can.”
Wawrinka will play his first match on the opening day of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship on January 1 against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, whom he defeated by hitting 61 winners to win 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in their Davis Cup final singles rubber last month.
Should he progress to day two, Wawrinka will face World No 1, Novak Djokovic, and bid to put an end to the Serb’s Abu Dhabi winning streak, which has seen him claim the trophy for the last three years.
The pair met just twice in 2014, firstly at the Australian Open, where Wawrinka reigned supreme in the semi-finals, then at the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London, where Djokovic wreaked revenge.
Wawrinka added: “I’m looking forward to playing against Tsonga again in Abu Dhabi. If I get through to play Djokovic, that would be a great opportunity for me against the World No 1.
“We only had two matches last year, so the more chances I have to play him, the better.”
Six of the world’s best players, with 24 grand slam titles between them, will compete for the title in Abu Dhabi. Wawrinka will be joined by Djokovic, World No 3 Nadal, inaugural Mubadala World Tennis champion Andy Murray, and the dynamic French duo of Tsonga and Gael Monfils.
Tickets for the event are on sale at www.ticketmaster.ae and all Virgin Megastore outlets across the UAE or by calling 800 TM UAE (800 86 823). Prices start from Dh50 for upper-bowl seating, with exclusive premier hospitality packages also available, including food-and-beverage offers, star player meet-and-greets and premier stadium seating.
For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com and www.facebook.com/mubadalaworldtennischampionship.
