ABU DHABI 19 December 2019: Two of the star attractions at this week’s Mubadala World Tennis Championship, which starts today (December 19), eased into Abu Dhabi action with a friendly game of foot-tennis at the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City.
Rafael Nadal, the current World No.1, and 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals winner Hyeon Chung, exchanged volleys and jokes over the Mubadala World Tennis Championship net as they readied for the epic three-day tournament.
The pair are among six male and two female players contesting eight games in three days during the 12th edition of the Arabian Gulf’s most intimate tennis experience. The men’s field also includes World No.2 Novak Djokovic, 2019 ATP Tour Finals winner Stefanos Tsitsipas and Russian duo Andrey Rublev and Russia’s Karen Khachanov. The tournament’s women’s match on Thursday will see five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova face-off against Australia’s Fed Cup finalist Ajla Tomaljanovic at 8pm on December 19.
Ahead of Thursday’s opening matches, Nadal and Chung – who will meet in the Mubadala World Tennis Championship semi-finals if the Korean advances past Khachanov in Thursday’s second quarter-final – were also presented with personalised Al Jazira Football Club shirts by the UAE capital team’s goalkeeper, Ali Khaseif.
‘The Best’ on and off court
Aside from the best live tennis as the world’s best players competing in eight matches from Thursday to Saturday, ticket holders can make the most of excellent food and beverage offerings in the Tennis Village, or make a beeline for tennis clinics, autograph and Q&A sessions with the players.
The Championship also has a host of tennis-themed activities and competitions offering great prizes, including the chance to win a year’s free Deliveroo (worth Dh30,000), and daily exercise classes from Abu Dhabi fitness chain The Room. A recent Yasalam Emerging Talent Competition participant will entertain crowds with a live set on Friday, December 20, while the Tennis Village is also home to the Mubadala Interactive Zone featuring games and challenges.
December 19 is Kids’ Day, with children 12 and under entering for free. Activities begin at 2pm with a star player Q&A allowing young fans to ask one of the world’s best players anything they want, as well an autographing signing session with World No.1 Rafael Nadal! Children can also compete in a 10-station tennis challenge, where completing all 10 activities enters youngsters into a grand draw for more mega prizes.
