DUBAI 7 October 2018: Flash Entertainment has announced the Mubadala World Tennis Championship (MWTC) will be returning to Abu Dhabi this year from 27th – 29th December with 14-time Grand Slam Champion, Novak Djokovic and seven-time Grand Slam winner, Venus Williams, amongst the first names confirmed for the three-day tournament.
MWTC, now in its 11th edition, is set to once again thrill tennis fans and their families. With a line-up featuring six top male players and two leading female players, this year’s event is guaranteed to kick-off the 2019 tennis season with a bang.
Djokovic, current world number three has been in red-hot form this year, winning Wimbledon back in July and earlier this month the US Open, his three previous MWTC wins make him one of the favourites to take the title again this year.
The 31-year-old Serbian superstar who will be making his fifth visit to Abu Dhabi said: “It has always been an honour to play in Abu Dhabi and I can’t wait to see my fans once again this year. The Championship offers the perfect opportunity to fine-tune my preparations ahead of the Australian Open and I am really looking forward to competing there again.”
Joining Djokovic in Abu Dhabi and making her debut in the tournament, will be Venus Williams, who has 49 career titles to her name. The six-foot-one American has finished the season inside the top ten 13 times in her career and boasts an impressive 266-72 win-loss singles record in Grand Slams.
Commenting on her maiden appearance in Abu Dhabi, Williams said: “This will be my first time playing at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship and I am really looking forward to it. I’ve heard such great things about the Championship and the city from my sister, Serena. I can’t wait to meet my fans and play in front of what I hear is a very passionate crowd!”
But it’s not just the tennis action that is set to thrill the crowds, the Tennis Village will once again be offering exciting off-court action with guaranteed fun for all over the three-day event. Each day will take on a new theme, with Day One centred around families, Day Two designed for foodies and last but not least, Day Three dedicated to ladies.
In keeping with the theme of Day One for families, organisers have announced free entry for children (age 2-12) on the opening day of the Championship (with the purchase of an adult ticket), ensuring this year’s event a must-attend for the whole family and giving everyone a great opportunity to see their favourite players in action. To avail this special offer, fans must call 800 86 823.
Rashed Al Harmoodi, Head of External Corporate Relations for Mubadala, the title sponsor of the tournament commented: “We’re delighted to return to the Capital for MWTC’s 11th year and are looking forward to welcoming three-time winner Novak Djokovic and Venus Williams on her Championship debut.
“The tournament showcases Abu Dhabi as a world-class destination on the global sporting stage. As a long-standing partner we have always been committed to maximising the community impact and have helped coordinate a range of activities specially designed to engage and inspire young people around the Championship. We hope this will promote healthy lifestyle choices while building excitement around the event and the sport.”
John Lickrish, CEO of Flash Entertainment, added: “The Mubadala World Tennis Championship provides fans unrivalled access to the world’s top tennis players. We’re delighted Novak Djokovic will be returning to the tournament and thrilled to welcome Venus Williams to Abu Dhabi for the first time. The decision to welcome female players last year proved extremely popular; supporting women in tennis is something we will continue to do, especially as the tournament grows in prominence on the global stage.
“As tickets go on sale, we encourage all fans to take advantage of the early bird promotion and as an added incentive we are offering the three-day packages at a 20% discount thereby enabling families to make the most of a truly spectacular sporting event.”
MWTC is recognised as the first tournament leading into the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam event of the season, which is played on the same surface and in a similar climate. Having built its legacy as a must-attend experience, the MWTC offers its spectators into the equivalent of a Grand Slam quarter-final – with attendees having the unique opportunity to see performances from six of the leading men’s players battling it out across three days. More details on the confirmed player line-up will be announced shortly.
Organisers have confirmed that tickets to the hugely popular event will go on sale Wednesday 3rd October from 12pm. As an added early bird incentive, fans purchasing tickets between 3rd October and 13th October will stand a chance to win signed MWTC star player merchandise, each day during the promotion period.
Held at the International Tennis Centre at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi, tickets are priced from Dh100 and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ae or by calling 800 86 823 and all Virgin Megastores across the UAE.