Abu Dhabi: The absence of the world’s top-two tennis players, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, from next month’s Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala World Tennis Championship has not diminished the “amazing” tournament’s appeal, organisers insisted on Saturday.

Debutants at the eighth annual season-opening exhibition event, big-serving Kevin Anderson and Milos Raonic, are “exciting” additions to the six-strong line-up, tournament ambassador Pat Cash told Gulf News at Yas Mall.

Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon champion, presided over the draw for the tournament, which will begin at 4pm on Thursday, December 31 at Zayed Sports City Tennis Stadium with a match between world number seven David Ferrer and the flamboyant Frenchman, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

The winner of that clash will play 14-time grand slam champion Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals on January 1, with the overall champion the following day receiving $250,000 (Dh918,187).

World number 12 Anderson and Canadian Raonic, ranked 14, will meet in the second match at 7pm on the opening day for the right to meet 2015 French Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka in the other semi-final.

But a major talking point since the full line-up was confirmed earlier this month is the absence of tournament regulars, the three-time champion Djokovic and Murray, who won the event last year and its inaugural edition in 2009.

However, Greg Sproule, the managing director of tournament organisers IMG, was unfazed by their non-participation and enthusiastically talked up debutants Anderson and Raonic.

Speaking to Gulf News at Yas Mall after the draw had been made, he did not provide any reason for Djokovic and Murray’s no-show, but said: “We always have conversations with all the players [such as Djokovic] and it goes far beyond them as well. We speak to everyone. But we think mixing it up is also in the best interests of the tournament, so it is not the same year after year.”

He added: “There’s a youth movement in tennis and there are a lot of players such as Milos and Kevin who represent another era of tennis and haven’t played with us previously. They will appeal to a different demographic in Canada and South Africa. They are very exciting players, very tall, and we think that is a great way to celebrate tennis in a different way.”

Cash said: “This year we have a couple of new guys. I think they are two of the most exciting players around.

“Milos Raonic: John McEnroe said he has the greatest serve he’s ever seen in his life. His serve is just phenomenal. Then you have Kevin Anderson. He’s one of the success stories of the men’s circuit. When I first saw him, I didn’t think he’d be much of a player, but now he’s in the top-20 players in the world.

“He has a massive serve, big forehand and a very good all-round player.”

“It’s always nice to see the word number one here,” the Australian continued, when asked about the high-profile absentees. “That’s not to be this year, but we’ve still got four players in the top 10. This year has always had amazing draws and amazing players and that’s the case again. It’s one of the tournaments players like to play as it’s so relaxed and helps them prepare for the Australian Open.”

Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.ae and all Virgin Megastores across the UAE, or by calling 800 TMUAE (86 823) or +971 4 3662289 for international calls.

Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticketholders can benefit from a 20 per cent discount on Category 2 tickets through the Y1 Access programme.

For more information about MWTC 2016, visit www.mubadalawtc.com or www.facebook.com/mubadalaworldtennischampionship.