What’s On has details of who will play in Mubadala World Tennis Championship Abu Dhabi in January 2015. Get tickets to see Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

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The top two tennis players in the world have been confirmed as participants in the season-opening Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.

The three-day tournament runs from January 1 to 3 and will feature both the recently crowned Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic, and Spaniard Rafael Nadal.

It will be the fourth time Serbian Djokovic has taken part in the event, with the superstar yet to lose a single match at Zayed Sports City. It is the seventh occasion that six of the world’s top players have battled it out in the UAE’s capital.

“Abu Dhabi has always been very good to me and of course I was keen to return and defend my title,” the world No 1, who beat Roger Federer at the All England Club earlier this month, said. “The tournament draws the world’s top players and it is crucial for us to keep pushing and testing ourselves against each other, especially at the start of a new season.

2013 WAS A SPECIAL YEAR

“We’re more than half way through the year now and with one major secured I feel that I am on track for a memorable year but there is plenty more work to be done before we catch that flight to the UAE. Celebrating the New Year in Abu Dhabi will be very special this time around and I’m hopeful of starting 2015 in the best possible way – with a victory at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship.”

Spanish star Nadal will return for a sixth crack at the Mubadala title, seeking his first triumph since 2011.

Reflecting on the man that stands in his way, the French Open champion said: “The standards are always high in Abu Dhabi, the crowds are fantastic and there is a real buzz around the city so returning was an easy decision to make.

“It’s the perfect place to start the year and although there is still a long way to go in this current season, we have to plan ahead and make sure we give ourselves the best opportunities to start the year strong. For me that would be playing the Mubadala World Tennis Championships where all top players want to play. I hope this year I can win.”

DJOKOVIC WINS WIMBLEDON 2014

AMAZING DJOKOVIC SHOT

Tickets for the event go on sale on July 22 at ticketmaster.ae and all Virgin Mega Stores. Prices start from Dhs50.