World number two Rafael Nadal has confirmed that he will be taking part at the elite tennis exhibition event in Abu Dhabi by December.
Nadal joins Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2013 in Abu Dhabi, a three-day tennis exhibition competition that begins on December 26, 2013. Nadal is no longer a novice at this event, having won the exhibition tournament in 2009 and 2011. He had to miss the competition late last year as he had a viral illness which forced him to skip the Australian Open tournament earlier this year.
“I’ve been working hard all season and to have won two Grand Slams this year is an amazing feeling. I’m playing good tennis and I’m looking forward to seeing what the rest of the season will bring,” Nadal was quoted as saying. “After the disappointment of last year, I promised my fans in the UAE I would return, so I’m very happy it’s happening so soon and I’m back in the player line-up. This will be my fifth time playing in Abu Dhabi and I’m looking forward to getting back on court there later this year. It’s a great opportunity to test myself, especially just before the start of the new season.
“I’m sure I’ll face some tough competition but I’m hoping to take the title for a third time and play some great tennis for the Abu Dhabi fans in the process. The atmosphere is always fantastic and will be counting on the crowd’s support to help me win again this year.”
It remains to be seen whether Roger Federer, who has a base in Dubai, will join the event. Same goes for Andy Murray who just had a back surgery and will most likely miss the rest of the season to recuperate.
