As the tennis season ends, players are making plans on how to prepare for next year’s tournaments. With only a few tournaments left to end the year, some tennis stars are turning their attention to next year’s major titles. One tournament used as preparation for the next season is the Mubadala World Tennis Championships, held in Abu Dhabi.
What is the Mubadala World Tennis Championship?
The tournament began in 2009. The tournament offers an up-close and personal experience for tennis fans and their favorite players. It takes place over three days and features a format that includes six male players competing for the title. The tournament also features an exhibition match between two female players. This year’s event will be the 12th edition of the tournament. The championships take place from 19th to 21st December. Tickets for the Abu Dhabi tournament are already on sale. On the first day of the event, kids under 12-years of age attend the tournament free of charge.
Nadal and Medvedev confirmed so far
Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev will headline this year’s championships at Abu Dhabi. The two played each other at the US Open final. Nadal won the match to claim his 19th Grand Slam title. The Spaniard will be making his tenth appearance in Abu Dhabi. He has won the event four times. Nadal and Novak Djokovic have the most wins at the championships. Medvedev will be making his debut at the tournament. He has been in the form of his life lately, making it to six straight ATP tournament finals. The Russian won the Shanghai Masters last week, defeating Alexander Zverev in the final.
Amanda Anisimova and Maria Sharapova
Amanda Anisimova and Maria Sharapova will be the female participants at the event. Anisimova is currently ranked 27th in the WTA rankings. The 18-year-old won her first title this year. Sharapova is currently injured and pulled out of the Linz Open last week. However, the former world number one confirmed that she would play in Abu Dhabi to help her prepare for the 2020 season. The two players will be making their debut at the tournament. IMG also represents both players. The pair said they looked forward to playing in Abu Dhabi and putting on a show for the fans. Last year’s edition of the championships featured the Williams sisters, Nadal, Djokovic, and Dominic Thiem among other stars. Tournament organizers have said they will reveal additional stars for this year’s event in the next couple of weeks.
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Rafael Nadal’s ranking and performance in 2019
Ranked no.2, Rafael played his last match on the 8th of September when he beat Daniil Medvedev 7-5 6-3 5-7 4-6 6-4 in the final in U.S. Open to win his 84th career title.
This year the Spaniard has a 47-6 win-loss record. Rafael clinched 4 titles in 2019 in Rome, at the French Open, in Montreal and at the U.S. Open. The Spaniard was the finalist at the Australian Open.
Maria Sharapova’s ranking and performance in 2019
Ranked no.137, the Russian played her last match on the 26th of August when she had to bow to Serena Williams 6-1 6-1 in the 1st round in U.S. Open.
Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova |
Embed from Getty Images |
Amanda Anisimova’s ranking and performance in 2019
Ranked no.27, Amanda played her last match on the 30th of September when she surrendered to Jennifer Brady 6-74 7-62 6-3 in the 1st round in Beijing.
This year the American has a 24-15 win-loss record. Anisimova conquered 1 title in Bogota.