Fifth title in Abu Dhabi the objective for ‘excited’ Nadal
Rafael Nadal will be back in Abu Dhabi in December where he will look to win a fifth Mubadala World Tennis Championship title.
The 15-time major winner was announced yesterday as part of the first three players in the field for the event at the International Tennis Centre Zayed Sports City between December 28-30, with a prizefund of $250,000 (Dh918,200) at stake for the winner.
Dominic Thiem, the world No 8, and Milos Raonic, the world No 10, are the other two players named for the three-day exhibition event, with the other three players to be announced closer to the competition.
It will be the 10th staging of the tournament and the news came on the day that Roger Federer’s withdrawal from playing in the Cincinnati Masters ensured Nadal will go back to world No 1 for the first time since 2014 next week.
The Spaniard is the defending champion, having won the 2016 December event by beating David Goffin in the final.
Nadal, 31, has also won the event in 2010, 2011 and in January 2016, and was runner-up in the inaugural staging of the event in 2008-09, when he lost to Andy Murray in the final.
In a news release yesterday, Nadal said “I am extremely excited to play in the Mubadala World Tennis Championship again later this year.
“This tournament is very important to me as it is not only the 10th edition and my ninth appearance, but I will also be defending my title. I am very proud to be part of this great event and I know it will be a really enjoyable and challenging tournament as always.”
Nadal’s success in December was the catalyst for a strong 2017 so far, which was highlighted by him winning his 10th French Open title in June and reaching the Australian Open final as well.
If he wins the Cincinnati Masters tournament this week he will return to world No 1 for the first time since 2014.
Thiem will be making his first appearance in Abu Dhabi, while Raonic has competed the past two years, losing to Nadal in the January 2016 final.
Tickets to the Championship went on sale to the general public yesterday at www.ticketmaster.ae and all Virgin Megastores across the UAE.
For more information, visit: www.mubadalawtc.com.