Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will be returning to Abu Dhabi this December while Kevin Anderson is set to make his debut in the capital as the pair were announced as the final two players to round up the Mubadala World Tennis Championship (MWTC) line-up.
French crowd favourite Tsonga and South African big-server Anderson join Stan Wawrinka, Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer and Milos Raonic as the Abu Dhabi ‘Super Six’ who will battle it out from December 31 to January 2 at Zayed Sports City's International Tennis Centre.
Tsonga, ranked No10 in the world, will be making his fourth appearance in eight editions of the MWTC.
The 30-year-old was forced to miss the start of the 2015 season due to a forearm strain which ruled him out of the Australian Open, but returned to the ATP top-10 last month following a semi-final appearance at Roland Garros, a quarter-final showing at the US Open and, most recently, placing runner-up at the Shanghai Masters.
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“I am really enjoying my tennis, feeling good and there is a lot to look forward to,” said Tsonga, a former Australian Open runner-up.
“Abu Dhabi is a tournament which can kick-start my season right from the beginning so I’m excited for the challenge.
"In previous years of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship I’ve met so many supportive fans and, young people who are passionate about tennis and it’s great to see the enthusiasm for the sport.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to the UAE capital and seeing the fans again. It’s looking like another exciting year of tennis for the UAE crowds and what better way for them to celebrate the New Year."
Meanwhile Anderson, who made his top-10 debut last month and is currently ranked No12, has enjoyed a tremendous 2015 where he reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time after upsetting Andy Murray at the US Open.
“I’ve heard a lot about the Mubadala World Tennis Championship and seen that it’s a great place for players to start the season with top competition,” said the 203cm-tall Anderson, who was nominated for the ATP Fan Favourite Award this season.
“The line-up is really strong, really competitive and to go head-to-head with the likes of Milos, Rafa, Stan, Jo and David is the best way to get up to speed for the season. With such a strong line-up, the on court battles will be extremely competitive. I’ll be hoping to see some South African flags out there giving me support.”
Tickets for the MWTC are currently on sale at www.ticketmaster.ae and all Virgin Megastores. Alternatively, they can be purchased by calling 800 TMUAE (86 823) or +971 4 3662289 for International calls.
