Abu Dhabi: Six of the world’s top 10 players will compete for the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, the annual fare to be hosted at Zayed Sports City from December 27-29.
Andy Murray, the latest Grand Slam winner and world No 3, will be joined by the defending champion and world No 2 Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal (4), David Ferrer (5) and Tomas Berdych (6) alongside a debut appearance from Serbian superstar and World No 9 Janko Tipsarevic in the event managed by Flash Entertainment.
“This season has been great, winning both a Grand Slam and an Olympic gold medal but I’m hungry for more success and already looking forward to the season ahead, which starts for me in Abu Dhabi. I’m in good form at the moment and I want that to continue in the coming months,” Andy Murray, reigning US open Champion, said on his return to the capital after a three-year absence.
Novak Djokovic, who is eager to renew rivalries with the game’s elite, said: “Winning in Abu Dhabi on my first attempt last year helped kickstart my season and prepared me perfectly for Australia. The weather, facilities, player line-up and atmosphere are stunning so it was an easy decision to return.”
“Obviously, I want to defend my title but I also want to see how tennis has grown during the last year. What Mubadala has been doing is absolutely fantastic for the game as few tournaments have six of the world’s top ten players competing while letting fans and children get so close to their heroes. It was very special to see the excitement on the kid’s faces and the energy in the stadium. I’m sure this year will be even better,” Djokovic added.
The six players will chase the winner-take-all prize fund of $250,000 (Dh917,500). “This year’s line-up of players are truly at the top of their game. It guarantees another tournament of world-class tennis here in Abu Dhabi. The popularity of tennis has grown so much over the years, and the crowds are as passionate as anywhere in the world,” John Lickrish, of Flash Entertainment, said at the tournament’s launch yesterday.
For those who not only want to watch tennis, but also play and learn the game in the build-up to the tournament, the Mubadala Tennis in school programme and the Mubadala Community Cup are set to return with expanded programmes launching in the coming weeks.
Tickets are available from October 2 at www.thinkflash.ae. Delicious food and beverage facilities served within the tournament village to kickstart an incredible weekend of tennis.
SCHEDULE
Thursday, December 27
Tennis Village Opens Daily 10.30am
Match 1 – 5pm
Followed by Match 2 (not before 7:00pm)
Friday, December 28
Tennis Village Opens Daily 10.30am
Semi Final 1 – 3:00pm
Followed by Semi Final 2 (not before 5:00pm)
Saturday, December 29
Tennis Village Opens Daily 10.30am
3rd and 4th Place Match – 3:00pm
Followed by Final (not before 5:00pm)
Presentation cremony at approximately 7 pm
