Stefanos Tsitispas has completed the line-up for next month's Mubadala World Tennis Championship (MWTC) in Abu Dhabi, organisers announced on Tuesday.
Tsitipas, the Greek world No 3, joins top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, Norwegian world No 4 Casper Ruud, defending champion Andrey Rublev of Russia, British No 1 Cameron Norrie, and American US Open semi-finalist Frances Tiafoe at the December 16-18 tournament at Zayed Sports City's International Tennis Centre.
The one-off women's match will be contested by Tunisian world No 2 Ons Jabeur and 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu of Britain.
It will be Tsitsipas' second appearance at MWTC having reached the 2019 final, where he narrowly lost to Rafael Nadal.
“The Mubadala World Tennis Championship in 2019 was an incredible experience and I'm happy to be returning to Abu Dhabi,” Tsitsipas said. “I still cherish the love and support my fans there showed me and I’m looking forward to a wonderful time this year as well. Hopefully, I can leave this time with the trophy.”
Tsitsipas, 24, will head to Abu Dhabi after another strong season, which saw him win two titles including the successful defence of the Monte Carlo Masters crown. His best Grand Slam effort came at the Australian Open, where the Greek reached the semi-finals.
Tsitsipas is currently competing at the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin, Italy but lost his opening match on Monday evening to Novak Djokovic. A nine-time winner on the ATP Tour, Tsitsipas won the ATP Finals title on debut in 2019, becoming the tournament's youngest winner since Lleyton Hewitt in 2001.
“I want to reiterate that getting the greatest players in the world to play in Abu Dhabi is always our top priority; Stefanos is another of the next generation of players emerging in the race for the No 1 slot on the ATP Tour” said John Lickrish, CEO of Flash Entertainment, the tournament owners.
“Stefanos Tsitsipas is, without a doubt, one of the most promising young stars in tennis having already accomplished so much despite being only 24. He won plenty of admirers when he reached the final here in 2019 and I’m sure the fans will love seeing him showcase his skills in Abu Dhabi once again.”
Nadal v Tsitsipas in 2019 MWTC final
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Winner of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2019 Rafael Nadal, right, with runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas. All photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Rafael Nadal celebrates with the MWTC trophy following his 6-7, 7-5, 7-6 win over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Abu Dhabi final. -
Rafael Nadal shakes hands with Stefanos Tsitsipas following his 6-7, 7-5, 7-6 victory at the International Tennis Centre at Zayed Sports City. -
Rafael Nadal celebrates. -
Rafael Nadal waits for the trophy presentation. -
Rafael Nadal plays a shot during the Mubadala World Tennis Championship final against Stefanos Tsitsipas. All photos Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Stefanos Tsitsipas towels himself off during the final. -
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Reporter: Jon Turner: Fans with giant rackets during the final between Rafael Nadal v Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. Saturday, December 21st, 2019. Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Rafael Nadal plays a shot. -
A Stefanos Tsitsipas fan clutches the Greek flag during the final against Rafael Nadal. -
Rafael Nadal in action. -
Stefanos Tsitsipas returns a shot to Rafael Nadal. -
Rafael Nadal walks back to the base line. -
Stefanos Tsitsipas in action. -
Rafael Nadal plays a shot. -
Stefanos Tsitsipas stretches at the net to return a shot. -
Rafael Nadal plays a shot. -
Fans celebrate during the MWTC final at the International Tennis Centre at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi. -
Stefanos Tsitsipas serves during the Mubadala World Tennis Championship final against Rafael Nadal. All photos Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Rafael Nadal serves to Stefanos Tsitsipas. -
Stefanos Tsitsipas towels himself down in between points. -
Rafael Nadal in action. -
Stefanos Tsitsipas returns a shot to Rafael Nadal. -
Rafael Nadal plays a shot during the final. -
Stefanos Tsitsipas serves during the Mubadala World Tennis Championship final against Rafael Nadal. All photos Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Rafael Nadal plays a shot to Stefanos Tsitsipas. -
Fans watch the final between Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas. -
Rafael Nadal plays a shot. -
Stefanos Tsitsipas returns a shot to Rafael Nadal. -
Rafael Nadal plays a shot to Stefanos Tsitsipas. -
Stefanos Tsitsipas plays a shot. -
Novak Djokovic in between points during the Mubadala World Tennis Championship third-place play-off against Karen Khachanov at the International Tennis Centre at Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi. Djokovic won the match 7-5, 6-3. All photos by Chris Whiteoak -
Novak Djokovic celebrates winning the third place play-off. -
Novak Djokovic celebrates winning the third place play-off. -
Novak Djokovic prepares to return a serve. -
Novak Djokovic plays a shot to Karen Khachanov. -
Novak Djokovic and Karen Khachanov embrace at the end of the match. -
Fans watch the third place play-off between Novak Djokovic and Karen Khachanov. -
Novak Djokovic plays a shot. -
Fans watch the third place play-off between Novak Djokovic and Karen Khachanov. -
Novak Djokovic in between games during the Mubadala World Tennis Championship third-place play-off against Karen Khachanov at the International Tennis Centre at Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi. Djokovic won the match 7-5, 6-3. All photos by Chris Whiteoak -
Karen Khachanov plays a shot during the third place play-off against Novak Djokovic. -
Novak Djokovic plays a shot. -
The sun sets during the third place play-off between Novak Djokovic and Karen Khachanov. -
Novak Djokovic plays a shot. -
General view of the International Tennis Centre at Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi. -
Novak Djokovic plays a shot to Karen Khachanov during the Mubadala World Tennis Championship third-place play-off at the International Tennis Centre at Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi. All photos by Chris Whiteoak -
Karen Khachanov serves to Novak Djokovic. -
Novak Djokovic plays a shot to Karen Khachanov. -
A young girl sits on a tennis hammock at The National newspaper's booth at Zayed Sports City. -
Karen Khachanov plays a shot. -
Tennis fans arrive at the International Tennis Centre at Zayed SPorts City in Abu Dhabi. -
Novak Djokovic plays a shot. -
Fans watch the third place play-off between Novak Djokovic and Karen Khachanov at the International Tennis Centre at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi. -
Karen Khachanov during the third place play-off against Novak Djokovic. -
Novak Djokovic plays a shot. -
Tennis fans arrive at the International Tennis Centre at Zayed SPorts City in Abu Dhabi. -
A female tennis fan tosses a ball up on the lawn before the third place play-off between Novak Djokovic and Karen Khachanov. -
A young girl sits on a tennis hammock at The National newspaper's booth at Zayed Sports City. -
Tennis fans arrive at the International Tennis Centre at Zayed SPorts City in Abu Dhabi. -
Fans watch the third place play-off between Novak Djokovic and Karen Khachanov at the International Tennis Centre at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi.
The 14th edition of MWTC will follow its usual format, comprising two quarter-final matches on Day 1 before the women's match between Jabeur and Raducanu.
The top two seeds will receive byes into Day 2's semi-finals where they will face the winners of the opening day quarter-finals, following the fifth-place playoff.
Day 3 will then host the third-place playoff before the final and trophy ceremony. This year's final will take place earlier than normal so fans are able to watch the Qatar 2022 World Cup final the same evening.
Tickets start from Dh95 for adults and Dh45 for children and can be purchased on the event’s official website www.mubadalawtc.com.
