Fit-again Murray ready for Mubadala

David Cooper - Writer 13:30 17/12/2013
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  • On track: Murray will be fit and ready to compete in Abu Dhabi this month.

    Wimbledon champion Andy Murray has confirmed he will be fit and ready to take his place at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi following his injury lay-off.

    The world No4 and two-time Grand Slam champion played his last competitive match in September – a Davis Cup tie for Great Britain.

    Murray’s return to court from a back injury will be in the UAE capital later this month when he takes on world No10 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Day One of the Mubadala Championship.

    The 26-year-old has endured an intense programme of training and rehabilitation in Miami, Florida in a bid to be fit for the start of the new season. Murray’s dedication to his regime resulted in him being absent from collecting his BBC Sports Personality of the Year award on Sunday.

    Murray will remain in the US before flying to Abu Dhabi where he will be joined by some of the best tennis players on the planet, including world No1 Rafael Nadal, world No2 Novak Djokovic, and world No3 David Ferrer. Top ten players Stanislas Wawrinka and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga make up the six-man event.

    “I’ve been training and having rehab every day and will continue to do so right up until just before Christmas when I fly to Abu Dhabi,” Murray said. “Getting back to playing competitively is the next step in my preparations for the new season, which starts for me at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship.

    “Coming back from injury is never easy and the line-up this year is so strong but it’s exactly the test I need to see where my game is at.

    “I’m looking forward to being part of what is always a great tournament.”

    Prior to his injury, 2013 was an historic season for Murray who became the first British male to win the singles event at Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936. The 26-year-old also finished runner-up in his third Australian Open final, won his 27th career trophy and enjoyed a spell in the world number two spot.

    This year will see all three of the tournament’s previous champions battling for glory with current and two-time champion Djokovic, two-time winner Nadal and inaugural victor Murray all in action across the weekend.

    The addition of a fifth/sixth place play off to the tournament schedule for 2013 means that for the first time ever in the tournament’s history, all six of the stellar line-up will play on the same day, December 27th.

    The unique combination of a ‘winner takes all’ prize of $250,000, the world’s best players and a championship format that takes fans on day one immediately to the equivalent of a Grand Slam quarter final is sure to bring added spice to the event.

    The annual Mubadala World Tennis Championship takes place from 26th to 28th December 2013 at the Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex, Zayed Sports City.

    For fans that don’t want to miss out on the tournament, tickets are on sale from www.ticketmaster.ae and in selected Virgin Megastores, or call 800 TM UAE (800 86 823) with prices starting from AED 50 for children and AED 100 for adults.

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