Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic could meet in the final of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship after the draw was made for the exhibition event. Just a month on from the end of the Davis Cup, Nadal and Djokovic will return to action in Abu Dhabi to kickstart their preparations for the 2020 season. After winning the Davis Cup for Spain, Nadal has enjoyed a short break at Disneyland Paris with family.
While Djokovic has been in Bali, Indonesia, relaxing but also teaching kids at a tennis academy.
However, the duo leads the star-studded list of players due to play at the at Zayed Sports City’s International Tennis Centre from December 19-21.
Nadal and Djokovic are joined by world No 4 Daniil Medvedev, ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas, Gael Monfils and Hyeon Chung.
There is also a women’s match between five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova and Ajla Tomljanovic.
On the opening day of the tournament, Tsitsipas will face Monfils while Medvedev plays Chung.
Djokovic and Nadal have a bye and will enter the event in the semi-finals.
The winner of Tsitsipas against Monfils will play Djokovic in the first semi-final then Nadal faces the winner of Medvedev’s clash with Chung.
Djokovic is the defending champion while Nadal is making his tenth appearance at the event.
Meanwhile, Tsitsipas has been opening up about battling back from his struggles in the summer when he lost in five sets at the French Open and crashed out of Wimbledon in the first round.
He told the ATP: “I did have a lot of moments this year in which I didn’t feel very confident and I was doubting myself.
“The fans played an important role in bringing me back to life, my family as well, the other people around me.
“They knew that I was struggling, I wasn’t hiding this from them.
“I managed to take my time, think and process and come back stronger.
“I think we all have the ups and downs, and it’s normal to reflect on them and use them as a source of strength.”
Mubadala World Tennis Championship draw
Thursday December 19
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Gael Monfils
Daniil Medvedev vs Hyeon Chung
Friday December 20
Stefanos Tsitsipas or Gael Monfils vs Novak Djokovic
Daniil Medvedev or Hyeon Chung vs Rafael Nadal
