Tsonga signs up for Abu Dhabi

Sport360 staff 20:17 10/10/2016
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  • Tsonga is the third player to sign up.

    This will be Tsonga’s fifth appearance at the Abu Dhabi showpiece, which serves as the unofficial tennis season kick-off, annually staged at the turn of the New Year.

    The 13th-ranked Tsonga joins two-time MWTC winner, world No2 Andy Murray, and world No6 Milos Raonic in the six-player field, with the full list of participants yet to be revealed.

    “I am really excited to be returning to Abu Dhabi this year. I know the level of competition will be extremely high from the very first match,” said Tsonga, an Abu Dhabi regular and a fan favourite at Zayed Sports City, where the event is held.

    “The Mubadala trophy is definitely something I have my sights on and will be a great way to begin the 2017 season. The crowd there always encourages me to play my best tennis and I am looking forward to soaking up the atmosphere and giving the fans what they want.”

    Meanwhile, US Open champion and world No3 Stan Wawrinka revealed he is shaking up his typical calendar by opting to commence his 2017 season in Brisbane rather than his usual choice of Chennai.

    Wawrinka has won the last three editions of the Chennai Open but has decided to play the Brisbane International instead in the opening week of January. The Swiss will join 14-time grand slam champion Rafael Nadal and women’s world No1 Angelique Kerber at the tournament that serves as a warm-up for the Australian Open later in January.

    “I’m excited to be heading to the Brisbane International for the first time in my career,” Wawrinka said in a statement. “I’ve heard such great things about the event and it feels like the right time to change up the start of my season.”

    Wawrinka will be chasing his second Australian Open crown after beating Nadal in the 2014 Melbourne final.

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