The World No.2 returns to Abu Dhabi to defend his title at this year’s Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2019…

Novak Djokovic, the 16-time grand slam champion, is the fifth name confirmed for this year’s Mubadala World Tennis Championship (MWTC) in Abu Dhabi, organisers have announced.

Djokovic will return to the capital for the December 19 to 21 tournament in Zayed Sports City, now in its 12th year, to defend his title. It will mark the Serb’s sixth appearance at the exhibition event, traditionally used by some of the world’s top players as pre-prep ahead of the Australian Open, the first grand slam of the year, at the end of January.

Last year, Djokovic took home the title after a hard fought win against Kevin Anderson in a nail-biting 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 battle. Djokovic has now won the Abu Dhabi title four times.

Read more: Rafael Nadal to lead all-star line-up at Mubadala World Tennis Championship

Standing in Djokovic’s way to a fifth victory however, is World Number 1, Rafa Nadal. The Spaniard has also won the tournament four times, and is celebrating his 10th appearance at the Abu Dhabi tournament. Also confirmed is World No.4 Daniil Medvedev. The 2019 US Open finalist and St. Petersburg Open Champion is making his debut appearance, no doubt ready to make his mark on this prestigious tournament, too.

Read more: Tennis ace Maria Sharapova to play at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship

Meanwhile, Maria Sharapova and Ajla Tomljanovic will be expected to steal the spotlight on Day 1 of the championship in the women’s exhibition match.

Standard adult tickets are available online at ticketmaster or Virgin Megastores across the UAE, priced from Dhs100 on Day 1, Dhs250 on Day 2 and Dhs350 on Day 3. Three-day packages are priced from Dhs520 per adult.

Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2019, International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi Thur to Sat December 19 to 21. mubadalawtc.com

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Images: Supplied