Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Dominic Thiem learn Abu Dhabi Exhibition opponents
The Abu Dhabi Exhibition order of play has been announced and Rafael Nadal will play either Andy Murray or Dominic Thiem and Emma Raducanu will face Belinda Bencic.
The most notable fixture sees Andy Murray face Dominic Thiem. Murray will be hoping to keep up his end of season form against good opposition in former World number three Thiem. Thiem is making his return after suffering a wrist injury at the Mallorca Open.
20-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal will then face the winner of Murray and Thiem. Similarly to Thiem, Nadal will feature for the first time since the Citi Open in August after recovering from a foot injury.
After withdrawing from the Davis Cup Denis Shapovalov will face eighth ranked Casper Ruud who recently lost in the ATP Finals semi-finals to World number two Daniil Medvedev.
World number five and ATP Finalist Andrey Rublev will then play the victor of Ruud and Shapovalov in the semi-finals.
In the woman’s match, 19-year-old Brit Emma Raducanu will also play former World number four Belinda Bencic in a repeat of the pair’s US Open quarter-final encounter. Raducanu will be also under guidance of newly-appointed coach Torben Beltz as she looks to build on her sensational Grand Slam winning season.
Since the exhibition didn’t take place last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Andy Murray is eager to return and will also feature alongside fellow Brit Raducanu.
Two-time exhibition champion Murray said “I’ve got many happy memories of Abu Dhabi and I’m looking forward to returning. With Emma also playing on day one, we will be flying the flag for British tennis and looking to put on a strong display.”
Similarly, Raducanu said “I’ve never been to Abu Dhabi and can’t wait to go and play in the championship.
“I know the UAE (United Arab Emirates) is celebrating its 50th anniversary at the beginning of December, so I’m sure it’s going to be amazing there and I’m excited to experience everything the country has to offer both at the event and culturally.”
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