The annual preseason exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi will take place this week from Thursday through Saturday. This year’s field at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship includes Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Karen Khachanov, Andrey Rublev, and Hyeon Chung. There will also be a women’s exhibition match between Maria Sharapova and Ajla Tomljanovic.
As aways, the top two seeds–Nadal and Djokovic this season–receive byes to the semifinals of the six-man event. Nadal will kick off his campaign against either Khachanov or Chung, while Djokovic awaits the Tsitsipas-Rublev winner.
Since the inaugural MWTC in 2008, only four different players have lifted the trophy. Nadal and Djokovic are tied with four titles, Andy Murray has won it twice, and Kevin Anderson is the lone one-time champion. Anderson triumphed in 2017 (d. Roberto Bautista Agut) and finished runner-up last year (l. to Djokovic).
“I have always had a great time and enjoyed every minute at the Mubadala event,” Nadal assured. “It is a great way to start the season and getting ready this year for the ATP Cup. In previous years it was my entrance to the new season, continuing to other events. I always felt this tournament was getting better every year; I am sure this year will be no exception to that.”
Alternates Khachanov and Rublev do not have quite as much experience in Abu Dhabi, but they aren’t first-timers either. Rublev made his debut two years ago, while Khachanov participated in the 2018 event. The two Russians were not on the initial 2019 entry list, but they ended up replacing Daniil Medvedev and Gael Monfils. Medvedev and Monfils played last week at the Diriyah Tennis Cup in Saudi Arabia, after which the Russian–who won the title–cited fatigue and Monfils was hit by another injury.
“I was fortunate enough to experience this championship a couple of years ago,” Rublev said. “With a very strong lineup, it’s an opportunity to start the season with very competitive matches.”
“I can’t wait to return to the Mubadala World Tennis Championship and to Abu Dhabi after a great experience last year,” Khachanov commented. “The weather is fantastic and the fans really know their tennis. The set-up is superb, the crowd can really get involved, and it also offers the perfect opportunity to get the new season off and running with some hard matches.”
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Fortunately Rafa has time to rest before the new year starts, to celebrate Christmas too.