World number one Andy Murray and 14-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal are just two of the high-profile names taking part in the 2016 Mubadala World Tennis Championship, which takes place in Abu Dhabi from December 29-31. The non-ATP affiliated exhibition tournament is in its ninth edition and employs a knockout format with most of the world’s top players fighting it out for prize money of $250,000.
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Frenchman Jo-Wilfred Tsonga (Singles ranking – 12), Belgium’s David Goffin (Singles ranking – 11), Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych (Singles ranking – 10) and rising Canadian star Milos Raonic (Singles ranking – 3) are the other four ATP singles players competing in the tournament.
Tournament schedule
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Two-time winner Andy Murray enters this tournament as the top seed for the first time in his career.
Since Andy Murray (1) and Milos Raonic (2) are the two highest seeds at a tournament with just six competitors, they get automatic byes into the semi-finals. Their opponents in the semis are decided by a match between the remaining four seeds, which sees third take on fourth and fifth face sixth.
In his first competitive appearance since October, world number nine Rafael Nadal (3) will be looking to win his fourth Mubadala World Tennis Championship as he continues his preparations for the Australian Open. In order to do so, he will have to first defeat Tomas Berdych (4) before tackling Raonic a day later to book a place in the final.
Entering the tournament as the highest seed for the first time in his career, Andy Murray will also fancy his chances of gaining a third title in Abu Dhabi. He will take on the winner of the match between David Goffin (5) and Jo Wilfred Tsonga (6).
29 December: Goffin (5) vs Tsonga (6) & Nadal (3) vs Berdych (4)
30 December: Murray (1) vs Goffin/Tsonga & Nadal/Berdych vs Raonic (3)
31 December: Final
Nadal hopes for strong showing ahead of 2017
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Nadal has won the Mubadala World Tennis Championship on 3 occasions including this year, when he beat Milos Raonic.
Regular visitors to Abu Dhabi for the early season exhibition tournament, Murray (2 titles) and Nadal (3 titles) are the only winners besides Novak Djokovic (3 titles). A win for the Scot would tie him with Nadal and Djokovic at three titles apiece and would also keep him in good stead ahead of the 2017 Australian Open.
On the other hand, Nadal is clearly using the tournament as a way to jumpstart his 2017 season, after struggling with injuries and form in the past. The 30-year-old Spaniard won the previous edition in January 2016 when he dispatched Milan Raonic in straight sets 7-6, 6-3 and is hoping for a strong showing this time around as well.
“It is the best way to start my season. I’ve enjoyed many years playing in the UAE capital against the other top guys and I’m already looking forward to the next. After playing in Abu Dhabi I went on to play some great matches on the tour at the start of the year and I’ll be hoping for even better this time,” said Nadal, according to Ahlan.
