The annual exhibition tournament Mubadala World Tennis Championships will be the traditional curtain-raiser to the international tennis season. The Mubadala World Tennis Championships will take place from 31st December to 2nd January at the International Tennis Centre in Abu Dhabi.
The Mubadala tournament will start on 31st December with the match between Milos Raonic and Kevin Anderson followed by Jo Wilfried Tsonga vs David Ferrer (finalist in this tournament in 2013). The winner of the match between Raonic and Anderson will play against number 1 seed and Roland Garros champion Stan Wawrinka on 1st January. The winner of the match between Tsonga and Ferrer will clash against 14-time Grand Slam campion Rafa Nadal, who won in Adu Dhabi in 2010 and 2011 and finished runner-up to Andy Murray in 2009.
Tsonga reached the semifinals at the Roland Garros and the quarter finals at the US Open and finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic at the Shanghai Masters 1000 tournament.
“I am really enjoying my tennis, feeling good and there is a lot to look forward to. Abu Dhabi is a tournament which can kick start my season right from the beginning so I am excited for the challenge. In previous years of the Mubadala World Tennis Championships I have met so many supportive fans and young people, who are passionate about tennis and it’s great to see the enthusiasm for the sport. I am looking forward to getting back to the UAE capital and seeing the fans again. It’s looking like another exciting year of tennis for the UAE crowd and what better way for them to celebrate the New Year”, said Tsonga.
Kevin Anderson, who reached the quarter finals at the US Open this year after beating Andy Murray and defeated Stan Wawrinka at the Round of 16 at the Queen’s, will make his debut at the Mubadala World Tennis Championships.
