Sezon 2009 ruszy z grubej rury

Abu Dhabi: A bonanza awaits tennis fans in the UAE on New Year's Day 2009 when six of the best players in the world line up to contest the inaugural Capitala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.

Confirming their entries for this elite pre-season tournament yesterday were world number one Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer (No. 2), Andy Murray (No. 4), Nikolay Davydenko (No. 5), Andy Roddick (No. 6) and James Blake (No. 10).

The January 1-3 tournament will be held at the 5,000-seater Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex at Zayed Sports City.

Former world number one Federer said in a statement: "I am really looking forward to playing in Abu Dhabi. The player field is very strong and the location is beautiful.

"It is always exciting to play in new facilities and I am sure Abu Dhabi will be up there with the best of them. We all hope that this event will return year after year and set the standard for tennis lovers in the region."

Greg Sproule, managing director of International Management Group (IMG), announced the event together with John Lickrish, managing director of Abu Dhabi events company Flash, and Mirna Hijazi, director of marketing and communications at real estate developers Capitala.

Sproule stated that the Capitala World Tennis Championship - the first international tennis tournament to be held in the UAE capital - will see Nadal and company play a series of matches with the winner picking up $250,000.

"Tennis is growing from strength to strength and the forthcoming event is the beginning of a tennis legacy in Abu Dhabi," he said.

The event aims to raise awareness of the benefits of tennis and the importance of an active healthy lifestyle, whilst also leaving a legacy for the community beyond the tournament.

"We hope to see more people in the UAE play this beautiful game after watching these top players in action," stated Lickrish.

In the weeks leading up to the event the organisers will be holding a series of tennis themed activities in and around the capital, engaging all ages and nationalities.

This will include the 'Community Cup', a community tournament, where winners will compete to have the exclusive chance to meet their favourite players.

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