TENNIS TALK

DECEMBER 16 TO 18

Some of the biggest names in tennis are in the capital for the 13th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, including Britain’s shining new star

It says something about Emma Raducanu’s status in the world right now that the announcement of her appearance at the upcoming Mubadala World

Tennis Championship garnered more column inches than news of Rafael Nadal’s attendance at the Abu Dhabi tournament.

Even the presence of a 20-time Grand Slam winner who could one day become the sport’s greatest, has been somewhat drowned out with the exciting news that the 19-year-old Raducanu would play the UAE capital for the first time this December.

Since her astonishing win at the US Open in September when, aged 18, she became the first qualifier, male or female, to win a Grand Slam in the

Open era, the youngest Grand Slam winner since Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon in 2004, and the first Brit to win a women’s Grand Slam singles title since Virginia Wade at Wimbledon in 1977, Raducanu’s life has, to put it mildly, taken a new direction.

There was the Met Gala in New York at which she wore a gown by Chanel, then the world premiere of the James Bond flick at the Royal Albert Hall in London when she dazzled in Dior. Raducanu, who just turned 19, played tennis with Kate Middleton in front of a swarm of press photographers and later inked a deal to be the face of luxury jewellery brand Tiffany and Co. Inevitably, a story on the photogenic player soon followed in the glossy pages of Vogue magazine.

Raducanu’s career earnings stood at around the nottoo-shabby $300,000 mark before the US Open but after her historic win over Leylah Fernandez, Raducanu departed Flushing Meadows with not only the trophy and a new global army of fans, but also a cheque for $2.5m. Raducanu’s age, her ability to speak English, Romanian and Mandarin, and her arrival on the scene just as former great, Serena Williams, fades, are all seen as key factors why the British player could become the next household name of world tennis.

But, of course, in order to do that, Raducanu must keep winning tournaments, something the one-time queen of the court, Martina Navratilova, believes is highly possible. “A star is born,” said the legendary winner of 18 Grand Slams after Raducanu’s US Open win. “It’s ridiculous how well she has done.” Another Queen, Elizabeth II, sent her congratulations and called Raducanu’s win “a remarkable achievement,” while the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge labelled the triumph “historic.”

In her first match at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi this month, the 21st world ranked Raducanu will face 2020 Olympic champion Belinda Bencic, the world number 17, in a rematch of their quarter-final at the US Open. John Lickrish is CEO of event organiser Flash Entertainment and said the encounter is “set to be the most intriguing women’s match in the championship’s history.” See you all at the courts.

THE COMPLETE LINE-UP

FEMALE PLAYER FIELD

Emma Raducanu

GREAT BRITAIN Current World Ranking: World No.21 Fast fact: Victory at the US Open earned her the British No.1 ranking

Belinda Bencic

SWITZERLAND Current World Ranking: World No.17 Fast fact: At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Bencic won gold in singles and silver in doubles with partner Viktorija Golubic

Rafael Nadal

SPAIN

Current World Ranking:

World No.5 Fast fact: The defending champ of Mubadala World Tennis Championship

Denis Shapovalov

CANADA

Current World Ranking:

World No.19 Fast fact: Shapovalov’s idol growing up was tennis ace Roger Federer

MALE PLAYER FIELD

Dominic Thiem

AUSTRIA

Current World Ranking:

World No.12 Fast fact: This marks his third appearance at MWTC

Andrey Rublev

RUSSIA

Current World Ranking:

World No.5 Fast fact: Rublev defeated countryman Medvedev at the 2021 Cincinnati finals

Casper Ruud

NORWAY

Current World Ranking:

World No.8 Fast fact: Ruud is the first Norwegian to win an ATP title

HOT OFF THE PRESS

FINAL PLAYER ANNOUNCED!

Andy Murray

GREAT BRITAIN

Current World Ranking:

World No.134 Fast fact: Murray won the inaugural MWTC in 2009 beating Nadal in the finals

OFF-COURT ACTION

Four reasons why the Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2021 is so much more than a tennis championship

1The Tennis Village is enormous

This year’s Tennis Village provides unrivalled access to top players with exclusive meet and greets, question and answer sessions, autograph signings, and sponsored activations.

3Food trucks create a foodie festival vibe

Look out for the fleet of food trucks courtesy of local and regional brands, plus there are plenty of open picnic areas where fans can sit back, relax and soak up the atmosphere.

4Player clinics

Top players will give spectators a rare opportunity to learn the tricks of the trade up close.

2The Mubadala Interactive Zone is back

Make sure you visit the Mubadala Interactive Zone, where everyone can take part in a variety of fun tennis-themed activities to win unbeatable prizes.

December 16 to 18

a Mubadala World Tennis Championship, International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, adults Dhs100, children Dhs50. mubadalawtc.com

EAT + DRINK + SHOP

RATING

FOOD A+ to C-

VIBE Family Friendly Party Casual Romantic Fancy

PRICE (FOR TWO) Up to Dhs249 Dhs250 to Dhs749 Dhs750+

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