Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
World No. 2 Ons Jabeur, the first Arab to reach a Grand Slam
final, will return to the UAE to defend her Mubadala World Tennis Championship
crown in Abu Dhabi this December. Organisers have confirmed the Tunisian, who
contested the US Open final earlier this month and reached the Wimbledon final
two months earlier, will take on British No. 1 Emma Raducanu on opening day of
the championship, this December 16.
Last year, Jabeur became the first Arab to contest – and win
– the annual Mubadala World Tennis Championship at Zayed Sports City.
The 28-year-old faced Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Belinda
Bencic in the headline women’s match and came from a set down to claim a
memorable 4-6, 6-3, (10-8) victory, to the delight of a raucous crowd inside
the International Tennis Centre.
“Playing in Abu Dhabi
is always exciting,” Jabeur said ahead of her appearance at the three-day
championship, which runs from 16 – 18 December.
“I had a fantastic
experience there in 2021 and I don't want to lose the opportunity to defend my
championship title this year. Aside from the match itself, I am most excited to
see my fans there – I find them extremely special as they have supported me
throughout every competition I have participated in this year.”
On the opposite side of the net will be Raducanu, who
triumphed at the US Open last year to become the first British female to win a
Grand Slam singles title since 1977.
She was the first player to win the US Open women’s singles
title without dropping a set since Serena Williams in 2014.
“I am thrilled to
finally be making my debut in Abu Dhabi,” said Raducanu. “I've heard great
things about the fans and how supportive they are, and I can’t wait to play in
front of them all.”
John Lickrish, CEO, Flash Entertainment, added: “We promised
we would bring the top players to compete in Abu Dhabi once again, and in Ons
and Emma we have secured two of the sport’s biggest names.
“Ons is a crowd
favourite and has enjoyed a tremendously successful year since winning the
Mubadala World Tennis Championship last December. Likewise, I know Emma is also
extremely popular and tremendously excited about making her debut here in the
UAE. I’m sure there will be huge interest from the tennis community both in the
UAE and the wider region.”
Celebrating its 14th edition this year, the Mubadala World
Tennis Championship will take place from 16-18 December at the International
Tennis Centre at Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi. As well as two of the best
players in the women’s game, fans will also witness a field comprising six of
the world’s top male players.
The region’s leading tennis experience will also bring its
traditional mix of festive fun, interactive activities, and athlete meet and
greets.
Organisers have scheduled the Day 3 matches to take place
earlier than usual to ensure fans are able to watch the FIFA World Cup 2022
Final, which is scheduled to take place at 7pm UAE time.
The final day’s action will start with the third-place
playoff at 1pm, before the grand finale takes place at 3pm, followed by the trophy
ceremony.
The Mubadala World Tennis Championship was launched in 2008
by Flash Entertainment, the region’s leading events consultancy, in partnership
with IMG.
Beyond the three-day tournament, the Championship is
committed to creating a legacy for tennis in the UAE through various community
programmes that raise awareness of the benefits of tennis and the importance of
a healthy and active lifestyle.