World No.1 Andy Murray and 14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal stopped traffic during a friendly hit on the Al Maryah Island Bridge in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday as they prepared for the start of the 2017 season. It marked a ceremonial start to the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, which officially gets underway on Thursday with a pair of quarterfinal matches.
The annual six-man event is taking place at the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City from Thursday through Saturday. This year’s star-stunned lineup includes Murray, Nadal, world No.3 Milos Raonic, 10th-ranked Tomas Berdych, flamboyant Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and tournament rookie David Goffin.
“It’s always good to be in Abu Dhabi,” said Murray, the reigning Wimbledon champion who finished a year No. 1 in the world for the first time in his career by beating Novak Djokovic in the World Tour Finals championship match this fall. “I’ve been coming here for so many years and it works as a place to start into the season. I know I’m going to get the practice and matches I need. I worked so hard to get to world No. 1 and I’ve been training hard in Miami. But after a few days off at home for Christmas, I’m ready to play.”
“It’s good to be back,” Nadal noted. “I feel fit, healthy, and ready to go. I’ve got some good memories from winning in Abu Dhabi, so hopefully I can play well again and get some good match practice.”
Opening day will pit Nadal against Berdych and Tsonga against Goffin. Murray awaits either Tsonga or Goffin, while Raonic will face the winner of the Nadal-Berdych clash.
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! and 2 seed will play for third place.
Rafa to play Goffin in the F.
Well done Rafa!
Pau Ferragut @PauFerragut 9m9 minutes ago
#Nadal: “Win two matches against two great players are always good news. I hope to be ready to face a talented opponent like Goffin”.
Pau Ferragut @PauFerragut 13m13 minutes ago
#Nadal will face #Goffin on Saturday, not before 3.00pm (GMT+4) trying to reach his fourth #AbuDhabi title and the second in a row.
Pau Ferragut @PauFerragut 1h1 hour ago
#Nadal eating something similar to chocolate at court change. I don’t remember that before. Maybe a new weapon. Who knows…
Mary no i wasnt here a year ago, as for Amy she has always been nice to me, and sounds pretty objective to me, but you can be a fan of many players, and can also change whom you root for from time to time, who is she then i dont understand ? ….