Andy Murray, World number 11, has confirmed his attendance at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship to be held from Jan.1-3 next year, was announced by organisers on Wednesday.
Mubadala set tennis fans alight with excitement on Wednesday with the news that Murray joins world number 1 Novak Djokovic, world number 3, Rafael Nadal, and world number 4, Stanislas Wawrinka, as the fourth confirmed player in the six-star line-up, all of whom will have already turned their minds to the new year following the conclusion of the final Grand Slam of the season this week. For Murray, a fresh start to 2015 and tough early season competition is already firmly fixed in his mind as he prepares to mount a serious challenge for the 2015 Australian Open.
Speaking after his US Open campaign, Murray said: "I played some good tennis, but I think I can do better.
"The Grand Slams are over for this year now and I'm already looking forward to the start of next season which for me will be in Abu Dhabi at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship.
"It's a symbolic start date this year on January 1st, representing the first tournament of the season and the first matches of the year.
"The line-up so far is incredibly strong and after the winter break we should all be back, firing on all cylinders which is going to mean exciting tennis for the fans in Abu Dhabi.”
Inaugural winner of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in 2009, Murray will return to Abu Dhabi for what will be his fourth appearance at the season-opening event. Between them, the four players now confirmed for the world-class, annual tournament hold an astonishing 24 Grand Slam titles. Murray added: "With players like Rafa and Novak I know just how hard it is going to be but we only get better by testing ourselves against the best.
"Last year I really felt the support of the fans and I'm hoping everyone will come out on New Year's Day to back us again.”
Returning as the first tournament of 2015, the Mubadala World Tennis Championship offers fans, commentators and players early insight into the season ahead with competitors in the tournament running out as victors at January's Australian Open for the past three years.
Source: WAM