The Mubadala World Tennis Championship has confirmed that Novak Djokovic will return to Abu Dhabi to defend his title this December.

Djokovic is back in the UAE capital and will compete against World No. 1 Rafa Nadal, world No. 4 Daniil Medvedev and world No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas in a stellar line-up.

A strategic shift in dates to December 19-21 will see the 2019 Mubadala World Tennis Championship take place 10 days earlier than previous editions, with the event set to take place at its usual home, the International Tennis Centre at Zayed Sport City.

“Novak’s confirmation is proof of the fact that the MWTC has developed into a premier tournament, attracting the cream of tennis talent from across the world. Novak is no stranger to Abu Dhabi, having won the title four times and I am confident that he will come into the tournament firing on all cylinders,” said John Lickrish, CEO Flash Entertainment.

“Innovation and a constant uptick in the value we aim to provide to spectators has been a hallmark of the MWTC. This year, the change in dates, a line-up brimming with class, and the transformation of the International Tennis Centre into a wholesome entertainment village, are part of our efforts to make the tournament a certainty in the calendars of UAE residents and visitors,” added Lickrish.

Djokovic, who has won the Mubadala World Tennis Championship four times before, is looking forward to returning.

“Abu Dhabi is a special place and one where I have tasted success consistently. The courts are great, the spectators know their sport, and the atmosphere is thoroughly enjoyable,” said Djokovic.

“The lineup for the tournament is really strong. You always want to play challenging opponents early in the season in order to get a good measure of yourself and I am hoping I can put in place a few things that I have been working on in the off-season,” he said.

Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova will also be in action against promising American teenager Amanda Anisimova.

The event comes a week after Saudi Arabia’s first ever elite tennis tournament, the Diriyah Tennis Cup – which takes place in Riyadh.
The Mubadala World Tennis Championship was launched in 2008 by FLASH Entertainment, the region’s leading events consultancy, in partnership with IMG. Now celebrating its 12th edition.