World Tennis Championships

Fancy name for a six man exhibition in Abu Dhabi but the money on offer means they can boast a line up to rival most Masters QF. The event starts on Boxing Day with SF on 27th and the final on Saturday. The line up is:

26th December

Wawrinka v. Ferrer
Tsonga v. Murray

27th December

Nadal v. Wawrinka or Ferrer
Djokovic v. Murray or Tsonga

28th December

Final

Interesting choice for Murray to return in such an intensive format. Possible back to back matches versus Djokovic and Nadal doesn't seem a great plan. If we get the scheduled Nadal v. Djokovic final it may be fairly competitive. I suspect Novak will want to keep his winning streak going into Oz.

Brisbane, Chennai and Doha also all kick off before 2013 has ended. Nadal, Ferrer and Murray are all moving from Abu Dhabi to Doha. Federer kicks off his season in Brisbane this year. Chennai, as always, has by far the weakest of the three fields.

I was expecting Brisbane to post the draws, but it may be on Sunday. This is what they have… http://www.brisbaneinternational.com.au/players/mens-singles

Murray may be tentative in his first outing and may not go all out to win an exhibition.

Looking forward to this one BS, it won't be an easy return for Murray either although not too much riding on the result though. Interesting that Federer hasn't shown this year considering its not far from his training home of Dubai. That said it would mean him missing Christmas with the kids which would be tough.

Would love to see a Nadal vs Murray final for a change to see how their match dynamic is looking these days. Saw this about fixtures:

Mubadala World Tennis Championship information

Who: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, David Ferrer, Andy Murray, Stanislas Wawrinka, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Players: Ranked world Nos 1-4, 8 and 10

Where: International Tennis Complex, Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi

When: Thursday to Saturday

Fixtures

Match 1 Ferrer v Wawrinka, 5pm Thursday

Match 2 Murray v Tsonga, 7pm Thursday

Match 3 Losers Match 1 and 2, 12.30pm, Friday

Match 4: Nadal v winner Match 1, 3pm, Friday

Match 5: Djokovic v Match 2 winner, 5pm Friday

Match 6: Losers Match 4 and 5, 3pm Saturday

Match 7: Winners Match 4 and 5

Anyone know if the matches are televised in the UK?

Failing that anyone know where it may be streamed?

Seasonal greetings to all by the way.

Danny_1982 wrote:Anyone know if the matches are televised in the UK?

Failing that anyone know where it may be streamed?

Seasonal greetings to all by the way.

Check LiveScorehunter/Streamhunter. It has the MWTC listed. If Murray is playing, Uncle Beeb or Aunty Sky may also have it.

Thanks LF. Can't see it on sky or beeb.

It's on ESPN from 3.00. Great stuff.

Ferrer d Wawrinka 7-5, 6-1.

Tsonga d Murray 7-5 6-3 so faces Wawrinka for 5th.

Yeah, Murray did ok for hits first match back. Moved alright-ish, played some good points... Obviously very rusty though, lots of errors. Tsonga was the better player and deserved it. He served really well.

Yeah he did Danny plus Abu is a fast surface too, so not easy for Murray to get a look in when coming back cold. Good start, let's see how he fares vs Stan The Man tomorrow.

Ideal for Murray really. Good matchplay without the likelihood of getting battered by Djokovic. If he can somehow beat Stan tomorrow that would be perfect prep.

As we all know, Djokovic was recently declared "World Champion" by the ITF.

Does he lose this title if he does not win these "World Tennis Championships"? 

He keeps it, Murdoch. The World Championships are not added to the patented ITF coefficient, which vaguely goes like so:
1 Cup icing sugar
6 egg whites
2 and a half glasses of Custard
1 Grand Slam
a pinch of salt
a late season push
Two part time rivals
and some fried chicken.

Good match between Rafa and Ferrer at the minute. Ferrer a set up and on serve in the second. Ferrer playing well, Rafa struggling a little. The court is quite low bouncing so he can't force Ferrer to be hitting at shoulder height very often, which he does to everyone else for most of the year.

Easy win for Murray over Stan. Perfect season prep. I assume Ferrer beat Rafa?

Yes he did BS, 6/4, 6/4. Novak beat JWT in straights as well, so it's Ferrer v Novak in the final and JWT v Rafa tomorrow.

The 3 big guns avoided playing each other, which I suspect they're pleased about probably.

Novak becomes Mubadala 'World Champion' to add to his ITF 'World Champion' title earlier in the month.

I believe this is a bit like a boxer becoming Undisputed World Champion.

With all these world titles, I hope he can still motivate himself for regional events such as the Australian Open.

HM Murdoch wrote:Novak becomes Mubadala 'World Champion' to add to his ITF 'World Champion' title earlier in the month.

I believe this is a bit like a boxer becoming Undisputed World Champion.

With all these world titles, I hope he can still motivate himself for regional events such as the Australian Open.

You mean a minor event like the Slam of Asia/Pacific… nah. Glad to see Novak get some pocket change.

HM. Poor Rafa if he doesn't win in Doha no doubt it will be due to the emotional let down of not being able to snatch those titles from Nole   

Did you notice that Boris appeared to be getting on well with Djokovic's girlfriend whilst watching the match? Knowing Becker's reputation maybe Nole should get his less senior coach to sit next to her in future. Or maybe he could give Boris a note book and ask him to mark his overheads out of ten to keep him distracted?

HE, Rafa only has himself to blame.

If he is going to focus his energy on winning local tournaments in France and USA, he is going to miss out on the holy grail of these world titles.

He has a lot to learn.