Ruud joins stellar cast, set for Mubadala Tennis C’ship debut
Just a day ater announcing World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz will make his Middle East debut at this year’s Mubadala World Tennis Championship in December, organisers have revealed World No.3 Casper Ruud will join the Spaniard in making a first appearance in Abu Dhabi.
Ruud is coming off a stellar season in which he made it to two Grand Slam finals and secured three ATP Tour wins. Ater reaching the French Open final in June, he made it to the final of the US Open at Flushing Meadows where he was narrowly beaten in a thrilling match against Alcaraz.
The 23-year-old Norwegian will arrive in the UAE capital aiming for a maiden MWTC title. In securing the World No.2 ranking last month, he became the highest-ranked Norwegian tennis player in history. He has nine ATP Tour singles career titles and is looking forward to playing on the hard court at the International Tennis Centre at Zayed Sports City.
“I’m really looking forward to visiting Abu Dhabi for the first time to contest the Mubadala World Tennis Championship,” said Ruud. “It’s been a tournament on my radar for some time and I know that the level of tennis is going to be of the highest quality. I’m excited to be involved and play in front of my fans over there in the UAE.”
John Lickrish, CEO, Flash Entertainment, added: “We are delighted to confirm Casper Ruud will be contesting this year’s Championship. To have the World No.1 and No.3, and the next generation of tennis superstars, is a real coup for the UAE capital and shows the popularity of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. Just last month, these two players were contesting the final of the US Open and now there is every chance they could face each other in Abu Dhabi. That is what we are always looking to produce – an event featuring the very best.”
Ruud, Alcaraz, and female pair Ons Jabeur and Emma Raducanu, will be joined by four remaining male players in the event’s starstudded line-up, with one more being to be announced shortly.
On Tuesday, World No.1 Alcaraz announced to make his Middle East debut at the championship.
The Spaniard, who won the US Open last month and in doing so became the youngest male to reach the top of the ATP world rankings, will take to the court at the International Tennis Centre at Zayed Sports City from Dec.16 – 18.
Alcaraz’s victory at Flushing Meadows in September was his sixth ATP Tour singles title and his fith in 2022. Competing at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship for the first time, Alcaraz and Rudd will follow in the footsteps of superstars like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and and five-time winner in the UAE capital – Rafael Nadal.
Earlier, World No. 2 Jabeur, the first Arab to reach a Grand Slam final, announced to defend her Mubadala World Tennis Championship. 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 Raducanu on opening day of the championship.
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.
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.
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.
Ater reaching the French Open final in June, Ruud made it to the final of the US Open where he was narrowly beaten by Alcaraz. The duo could well face each other once more in Abu Dhabi