Rafael Nadal capped another memorable year by winning the Mubadala World Tennis Championship for a record fifth time on Saturday night, edging Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7, 7-5 7-6 in an absorbing final.
Nadal, 33, warned on the eve of the tournament that he was not in the best condition after a limited off-season due to his involvement in Spain’s victorious Davis Cup campaign at the end of November. He could have fooled us, bringing his trademark intensity to the Abu Dhabi final to see off a player in sensational form following his breakthrough victory at the ATP Finals last month.
The umpire was likely the most relieved man in the stadium after an incorrect decision during the first set tiebreak denied Nadal the chance to stay alive. Trailing 3-5, Nadal should have been awarded a point after Tsitsipas incorrectly challenged, but instead the umpire demanded the point be replayed. Tsitsipas would win the subsequent point before claiming the set.
There was little protest from Nadal, perhaps due to it being an unofficial tournament, although with $250,000 (Dh918,000) awarded to the winner, these guys certainly weren’t playing for free.
The second set proved similarly close to the first, with both players unbreakable on serve, although Tsitsipas did have two break points in the ninth game that were he to convert, would have given him the chance to serve for the title.
However, the world No 6 was given a harsh reminder to never leave the door ajar for Nadal because he will only smash it down. Tsitsipas offered up a solitary break point in the 12th game and Nadal was all too prepared to take advantage, clinching the set and forcing the final into a decider.
Once again, there was little to separate these two in the third set. Nadal looked to have seized the initiative when he broke to lead 4-2, only for Tsitsipas to break back immediately. A tiebreak looked inevitable and as the match headed in that direction, the crowd became more animated, with chants in support of both players ringing around the International Tennis Centre at Zayed Sports City.
In the end, it was Nadal who held his nerve, clinching the title after Tsitsipas dumped a forehand into the net. By the time they greeted each other at the net, they had been playing for three hours and 12 minutes. If MWTC is supposed to be an exhibition tournament, someone forgot to tell Nadal and Tsitsipas.
It is a fitting end to a year Nadal himself described as “magical”. The 33-year-old Spaniard won two grand slam titles – his 12th French Open and fourth US Open – claimed the year-end top ranking, and led Spain to team glory. Not to mention, he married his long-term girlfriend Maria Francisca Perello in October.
Nadal is the most frequent competitor in MWTC history having competed in 10 of the 12 tournaments, and he said he expects to be back again next year.
“I came 10, why not 11? Honestly you never know. I’m always one year older every time, but hopefully I stay healthy and hopefully I will be back. It’s a tournament I like so much and I always have great feelings here,” he said during the trophy presentation.
“Thank you to the crowd for an amazing year, their support is always amazing. Thank you Abu Dhabi, and thank you to Mubadala – please continue your support of tennis.”
Tsitsipas may have been on the losing side in Saturday’s final, but the Greek has won plenty of new fans this week. He, too, has had a season to remember, breaking into the top 10 in the world rankings, reaching his first grand slam semi-final – at the Australian Open – and winning the biggest title of his career to date at the season-ending championship in London.
“I’ve never played an exhibition so long, or maybe even any match, so I’m happy I gave it my all out there,” Tsitispas said in his on-court interview. “We got electric support from the fans here. It’s been a great couple of days, I enjoyed it a lot, and I’m really grateful to have the opportunity [to be here].
“Congrats to Rafa, it’s a great way for him to end the year. We put on some great entertainment with high-quality tennis.”
More on Quran memorisation:
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wes%20Ball%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Owen%20Teague%2C%20Freya%20Allen%2C%20Kevin%20Durand%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Audi R8 V10 RWS
Price: base / as tested: From Dh632,225
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 540hp @ 8,250rpm
Torque: 540Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.4L / 100km
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Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
THE DETAILS
Deadpool 2
Dir: David Leitch
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Justin Dennison, Zazie Beetz
Four stars
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
50-man Royal Rumble
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho
John Cena v Triple H
Matches to be announced
WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Raw Tag Team Championship, United States Championship and the Cruiserweight Championship are all due to be defended
Visa changes give families fresh hope
Foreign workers can sponsor family members based solely on their income
Male residents employed in the UAE can sponsor immediate family members, such as wife and children, subject to conditions that include a minimum salary of Dh 4,000 or Dh 3,000 plus accommodation.
Attested original marriage certificate, birth certificate of the child, ejari or rental contract, labour contract, salary certificate must be submitted to the government authorised typing centre to complete the sponsorship process
In Abu Dhabi, a woman can sponsor her husband and children if she holds a residence permit stating she is an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse or any profession related to the medical sector and her monthly salary is at least Dh 10,000 or Dh 8,000 plus accommodation.
In Dubai, if a woman is not employed in the above categories she can get approval to sponsor her family if her monthly salary is more than Dh 10,000 and with a special permission from the Department of Naturalization and Residency Dubai.
To sponsor parents, a worker should earn Dh20,000 or Dh19,000 a month, plus a two-bedroom accommodation
Company%20profile
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The biog
Name: Maitha Qambar
Age: 24
Emirate: Abu Dhabi
Education: Master’s Degree
Favourite hobby: Reading
She says: “Everyone has a purpose in life and everyone learns from their experiences”
One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
South Africa v India schedule
Tests: 1st Test Jan 5-9, Cape Town; 2nd Test Jan 13-17, Centurion; 3rd Test Jan 24-28, Johannesburg
ODIs: 1st ODI Feb 1, Durban; 2nd ODI Feb 4, Centurion; 3rd ODI Feb 7, Cape Town; 4th ODI Feb 10, Johannesburg; 5th ODI Feb 13, Port Elizabeth; 6th ODI Feb 16, Centurion
T20Is: 1st T20I Feb 18, Johannesburg; 2nd T20I Feb 21, Centurion; 3rd T20I Feb 24, Cape Town
