Nadal Will Play Abu Dhabi

Written by: on 25th September 2013
US Open Tennis
Nadal Will Play Abu Dhabi

epa03860211 Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the men's final on the fifteenth day of the 2013 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 09 September 2013. The US Open runs through Monday 09 September, a 15-day schedule for the first time. EPA/JUSTIN LANE  |

Rafael Nadal will uphold a vow he made to Abu Dhabi exhibition organizers last December when he was unable to play the event as he healed from knee problems.

 

But it’s a different story now as the world No. 2 with ten titles this season was announced as a definite signing for the well-paid December 26-28 event in the Gulf.

 

The Spaniard seems happy to be going back even if it means Christmas in the desert. “I’ve been working hard all season and to have won two grand slams this year is an amazing feeling,” he told organizers. “I’m playing good tennis and I’m looking forward to seeing what the rest of the season will bring.

 

“After the disappointment of last year I promised my fans in the UAE I would return, so I’m very happy it’s happening so soon and I’m back in the player line-up. I’m looking forward to getting back on court there later this year. It’s a great opportunity to test myself, especially just before the start of the new season.”

 

Added this season’s French and US Open champion: “I’m sure I’ll face some tough competition but I’m hoping to take the title for a third time and play some great tennis for the Abu Dhabi fans in the process. The atmosphere is always fantastic and will be counting on the crowd’s support to help me win again this year.”

 

Also along for a hefty payday for minimal on-court work are No. 1 Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, presuming the Scot fulfills his fitness timetable after this week’s keyhole back surgery. Nadal has been a familiar face at the hit-and-giggle event in the past, playing it five times and emerging with a pair of titles and millions in appearance money.

Topics: , , , , , ,








10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA thumbnail

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA

Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.
TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE

Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!
TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER

According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!
Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife thumbnail

Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife

Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos
ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS thumbnail

ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her second round match at the Nature Valley International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.