J ab eu r to play in Mu b adala World Tennis C’ship
Abu Dhabi: World No. 2 Ons Jabeur, the first Arab to reach a Grand Slam final, will return to the UAE to defend her Mubadala World Tennis Championship crown in Abu Dhabi this December. Organisers have confirmed the Tunisian, who contested the US Open final earlier this month and reached the Wimbledon final two months earlier, will take on British No. 1 Emma Raducanu on opening day of the championship, this December 16.
Last year, Jabeur became the first Arab to contest – and win – the annual Mubadala World Tennis Championship at Zayed Sports City.
The 28-year-old faced Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic in the headline women’s match and came from a set down to claim a memorable 4-6, 6-3, (10-8) victory, to the delight of a raucous crowd inside the International Tennis Centre.
“Playing in Abu Dhabi is always exciting,” Jabeur said ahead of her appearance at the three-day championship, which runs from 16 – 18 December.
“I had a fantastic experience there in 2021 and I don’t want to lose the opportunity to defend my championship title this year. Aside from the match itself, I am most excited to see my fans there – I find them extremely special as they have supported me throughout every competition I have participated in this year.”
On the opposite side of the net will be Raducanu, who triumphed at the US Open last year to become the first British female to win a Grand Slam singles title since 1977.
She was the first player to win the US Open women’s singles title without dropping a set since
Serena Williams in 2014.
“I am thrilled to finally be making my debut in Abu Dhabi,” said Raducanu. “I’ve heard great things about the fans and how supportive they are, and I can’t wait to play in front of them all.”
John Lickrish, CEO, Flash Entertainment, added: “We promised we would bring the top players to compete in Abu Dhabi once again, and in Ons and Emma we have secured two of the sport’s biggest names.
“Ons is a crowd favourite and has enjoyed a tremendously successful year since winning the Mubadala World Tennis Championship last December. Likewise, I know Emma is also extremely popular and tremendously excited about making her debut here in the UAE. I’m sure there will be huge interest from the tennis community both in the UAE and the wider region.”
Celebrating its 14th edition this year, the Mubadala World Tennis Championship will take place from 16-18 December at the International Tennis Centre at Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi. As well as two of the best players in the women’s game, fans will also witness a field comprising six of the world’s top male players.
The region’s leading tennis experience will also bring its traditional mix of festive fun, interactive activities, and athlete meet and greets.
Organisers have scheduled the Day 3 matches to take place earlier than usual to ensure fans are able to watch the FIFA World Cup 2022 Final, which is scheduled to take place at 7pm UAE time.
The final day’s action will start with the thirdplace playoff at 1pm, before the grand finale takes place at 3pm, followed by the trophy ceremony.
The Mubadala World Tennis Championship was launched in 2008 by Flash Entertainment, the region’s leading events consultancy, in partnership with IMG.
Beyond the three-day tournament, the Championship is commited to creating a legacy for tennis in the UAE through various community programmes that raise awareness of the benefits of tennis and the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle.