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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Verri

Mubadala World Tennis Championship: When is it, schedule, how to watch Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal

After the recent drama of the final Formula One race of the season, it’s tennis’ turn to take centre stage in Abu Dhabi with the Mubadala World Tennis Championship getting underway.

The three-day event will see Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal in action, with the Brit guaranteed at least two matches as he returns to the court for the first time since losing to Tommy Paul in Stockholm more than a month ago.

Attention now turns to the new season, building up to the first Grand Slam of the season.

The Australian Open starts on January 17, and the few days of action in the Middle East promises to be an entertaining affair as players add some competition to their training.

What is the Mubadala World Tennis Championship:

Murray and Nadal were among the tennis stars featuring at the pre-season exhibition event. Six players are involved in the men’s side of the draw, while there is just the one women’s match.

Emma Raducanu was scheduled to play Olympic champion Belinda Bencic on the opening day, but the Brit has tested positive for Covid-19 and has been replaced by Ons Jabeur.

Murray, who won the tournament in 2009 and 2015, will no longer play Dominic Thiem as planned, after the Austrian decided he was not yet ready to make his comeback from a wrist injury. Dan Evans was been brought in to face Murray in an all British-clash instead.

Murray, the winner of that match beat Nadal the following day, for a place in Saturday’s final.

How to watch the Mubadala World Tennis Championship:

The three days of action will be shown live on Eurosport, the Eurosport app, Eurosport.co.uk and on discovery+.

Taylor Fritz and Denis Shapovalov kicked the tournament off at midday GMT on Thursday, December 1, with the final match in Dubai coming on Saturday afternoon when the men’s final takes place at 3pm GMT at the earliest.

Mubadala World Tennis Championship schedule:

Thursday December 16:

  • Denis Shapovalov beat Taylor Fritz
  • Andy Murray beat Dan Evans
  • Ons Jabeur beat Belinda Bencic

Friday December 17:

Saturday December 18:

  • Third-place play-off (1pm GMT)
  • Men’s final (Not before 3pm GMT)
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