Start small. Think big.
These four words have often been cited as the mantra of the successful.
Thankfully, those in charge at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship (MWTC) thought otherwise. They decided back in 2008, when the plans for the first event in January 2009 began, to start big.
Not just big, but something like an “ATP World Tour Finals” big, inviting four of the top five in the ATP rankings – and six of the Top 10 – for the first staging of what has become one of the most significant events on the country’s sporting calendar.
The star cast for the first year included Rafael Nadal (world No 1 at the time), Roger Federer (No 2), Andy Murray (No 4), Nikolay Davydenko (No 5), Andy Roddick (No 8) and James Blake (No 10), and the tournament has only grown since, attracting the best year after year.
And why, you might ask, do the players keep on coming back?
Andy Murray, the world No 1 who won the inaugural tournament in Abu Dhabi and again in 2015, said: “It’s a chance to experiment and put what you’ve been working on in the off-season to the test against some great players, which is what makes it such an exciting tournament.”
Tomas Berdych, who like Murray is competing in Abu Dhabi this weekend, added: “What’s great about this tournament is that because of the guys you play, the matches feel like the later stages of a grand slam from day one. So we bring our best game all three days.”
Milos Raonic, who reached the final on his MWTC debut last year and was the first to confirm to participate in the ninth staging of the competition, echoed those views.
“It’s a fantastic start to the season to face off against the other top players and we can all get our games going early on,” said the world No 3. “The line-up is always challenging in Abu Dhabi, but that’s one of the main attractions.”
It really is. A three-day exhibition, the MWTC is anything but, and the competition for the trophy and the winner-takes-all cheque of US$250,000 (Dh918,150) is intense.
Only three players, Murray, Nadal and Djokovic, have won the tournament over the past eight years, and together they boast 29 grand slam titles between them.
Federer, winner of a record 17 grand slam titles, does not feature on the MWTC’s roll of champions. The Swiss ace has made four appearances at the tournament, but lost five of his seven matches, including the 2011 (January) final to Nadal.
Stan Wawrinka, a three-time major champion, has made three appearances at Zayed Sports City’s International Tennis Centre, and lost all five of his matches.
Berdych, one of the most consistent performers in men’s tennis outside the Big Four, has one win from four matches in two previous trips to Abu Dhabi, while Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a regular in the Top 10, has lost five of his six matches here.
No wonder, Raonic sounded so pleased about reaching the final on his debut appearance here 12 months ago.
“I had a really enjoyable experience last year, challenging for the title in my debut outing and taking in an incredible atmosphere,” he said.
A few weeks after his successful MWTC debut, the Canadian reached the semi-final of the Australian Open and, though he suffered an adductor injury during his five-set semi-final loss to Murray in Melbourne, he bounced back to reach his first major final at Wimbledon, where he lost, yet again, to the Scot.
“My great 2016 season started in January, at my first Mubadala World Tennis Championship,” added Raonic, who will meet the winner of the opening day clash between defending champion Nadal and Tomas Berdych in Friday’s semi-final. “It helped set up the best season of my career.
“This championship is the perfect way to set me on course to continue that. For me it’s like starting my season off by stepping into the semi-final of a grand slam.”
Raonic, of course, is not the only player to find success on the Tour after starting his season in Abu Dhabi.
Now, Belgian David Goffin, making his MWTC debut this week, is hoping he can build some momentum of his own.
“The players have always talked about this tournament being a great season starter, and it’s something I’ve wanted to take part in for a while,” said the world No 11.
“I’m looking forward to experiencing it first hand, and against some of the best players in the world.”
Tournament schedule
• Thursday: David Goffin v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (5pm), followed by Rafael Nadal v Tomas Berdych
• Friday: Play-off for 5th place (2.30pm); Andy Murray v Goffin/Tsonga (5pm), followed by Milos Raonic v Nadal/Berdych
• Saturday: Play-off for 3rd place (1pm), followed by the final (3pm)
Past champions
• 2009: Andy Murray - beat Rafael Nadal 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
• 2010: Rafael Nadal - beat Robin Soderling 7-6, 7-5
• 2011 (Jan): Rafael Nadal – beat Roger Federer 7-6, 7-6(3)
• 2011 (Dec): Novak Djokovic – beat David Ferrer 6-2, 6-1
• 2012: Novak Djokovic – beat Nicolas Almagro 6-7, 6-3, 6-4
• 2013: Novak Djokovic – beat David Ferrer 7-5, 6-2
• 2015: Andy Murray – beat Novak Djokovic (walkover)
• 2016: Rafael Nadal – beat Milos Raonic 7-6, 6-3
arizvi@thenational.ae