Mubadala Tennis WC Preview: Men’s singles

The 13th edition of the Mubadala world championship takes place in Abu Dhabi, just one week after the Formula One was hosted in the same city. A non-ATP event, there are no points available, but even this exhibition has prize money. And there’s pride on the line for the six men competing, with half of them at varying stages of comeback from injury.

The event begins on thursday the 16th of december, and features some interesting players.

The quarterfinals will have two matches; Ruud versus Shapovalov, and Murray versus Thiem.

The winners will move on to face Nadal and Rublev in the semifinals, the losers will play off for fifth place.

Then the winners will face off in the final, as well as the losers in the semifinals playing a third place match.

Casper Ruud (3)

-Norway

-22 years old

-World number seven

Denis Shapovalov (4)

-Canada

-22 years old

-World number 14

Record: 1 – 0 Ruud – Shapovalov

Dominic Thiem (5)

-Austria

-28 years old

-World number 15

-2020 US Open champion

-First match since wrist injury

Andy Murray (6)

-Great Britain

-34 years old

-World number 134

-Three time grand slam champion, two time olympic champion

-Still on comeback from hip injury

Record: 2 – 2 Murray – Thiem

Thiem won the last two meetings.

Andrey Rublev (1)

-Russia

-24 years old

-World number five

Rafael Nadal (2)

-Spain

-35 years old

-World number six

-20 time grand slam champion, 2008 olympic singles champion

-First match since last hiatus from foot injury

The Mubadala world championship is a good chance to see some fan favourites during the off-season, and a good opportunity for Thiem, Murray and Nadal to begin/continue their comebacks. The exhibition should be an entertaining affair.