The Mubadala World Tennis Championships has become one of the UAE’s major events on the sporting calendar.
It entices some of the biggest names in world tennis and unofficially kicks of the new season of tennis.
But who are the most successful players in the tournament’s history and how has it changed over the years? Fear not, we bring you all you need to know about the MWTC.
Will you be going to this year’s event and which previous year served up your favourite tournament?
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HOW DID IT START OUT?
Back in November 2008, tournament owners FLASH Entertainment brought in IMG to organise the event, with Capitala as title sponsors.
It was planned as an exhibition tournament made up of six players and played across three days at the International Tennis Complex at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi.
Andy Murray would go on to win that first edition, beating Rafael Nadal in the final. The inaugural staging of the tournament featured a star-studded lineup that also included Roger Federer, Nikolay Davydenko, Andy Roddick and James Blake.
The prize money still stands at $250,000 but Mubadala replaced Capitala as title sponsors in 2011 and it has been called the Mubadala World Tennis Championship ever since.
WHEN DOES IT TAKE PLACE?
The tournament takes place at the turn of the New Year and is used as a warm-up by the players who would then go on to officially kick off their ATP season either in Qatar, India or Australia.
This year’s event, the ninth edition of the MWTC, starts on December 29, with the final being played on New Year’s Eve.
As part of the festivities, there are also family activities, a tennis village and a range of opportunities to meet the players all against the backdrop of the turn of the year.
Community initiatives are a big part of the MWTC with local tournaments and school programmes staged throughout the year. The Mubadala Tennis in Schools programme gives training to PE teachers, equipment to the schools, and introduces kids from both international and Arabic schools to the sport.
The Mubadala Community Cup sees kids across all ages, as well as adults, compete in tournaments with the winners claiming much-coveted spots in clinics with the stars of the MWTC in December.
WHERE DO THEY PLAY?
The Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex has been the go-to venue for top-class tennis ever since it opened in 2004.
Situated at Zayed Sports City, the purpose-built stadium is a perfect setting for MWTC.
It has a seating capacity of 5,000 people on centre court and a further 600 on its Court 2.
WHO HAS WON IT THE MOST?
Two men have won the tournament three-times; Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Murray’s two victories mean that only these three men have ever taken home the MWTC crown.
Nadal won the tournament two years running after Murray’s 2009 glory, before Djokovic took home the following three in 2011, 12 and 13.
Murray secured his second title in 2015, while Nadal completed his hat-trick last year.
WHO IS PLAYING THIS YEAR?
The full six-man list is yet to be released, with most names being teased over the ensuing months.
However, Murray and Milos Raonic are definite.
HOW CAN I BUY TICKETS?
Tickets are already available for fans wanting to book their spot in Abu Dhabi, with individual and package deals available.
All you have to do is log-on to Ticketmaster, pick your spot, hand over some Dirhams and you’re away…
