World No. 2 Ones Jabeur will face British No. 1 Emma Raducanu this December in Abu Dhabi.
Ons Jabeur will return to the UAE to defend her Mubadala World Tennis Championship crown in Abu Dhabi this December. Organisers have confirmed that the Tunisian, who contested the US Open final earlier this month and reached the Wimbledon final two months earlier, will take on Emma Raducanu on day one of the Championship.
Last year, Jabeur became the first Arab to contest – and win – the annual Mubadala World Tennis Championship at Zayed Sports City. The 28-year-old faced Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic in the headline women’s match and came from a set down to claim a memorable 4-6, 6-3, (10-8) victory, to the delight of a raucous crowd inside the International Tennis Centre.
“Playing in Abu Dhabi is always exciting,” Jabeur said ahead of her appearance at the three-day championship, which runs from 16 to 18 December 2022. “I had a fantastic experience there in 2021 and I don’t want to lose the opportunity to defend my championship title this year. Aside from the match itself, I am most excited to see my fans there – I find them extremely special as they have supported me throughout every competition I have participated in this year.”
On the opposite side of the net will be Raducanu, who triumphed at the US Open last year to become the first British female to win a Grand Slam singles title since 1977. She was the first player to win the US Open women’s singles title without dropping a set since Serena Williams in 2014.
“I am thrilled to finally be making my debut in Abu Dhabi,” said Raducanu. “I’ve heard great things about the fans and how supportive they are, and I can’t wait to play in front of them all.”
Tickets start from AED 95 for adults and AED 45 for children on day one of the Championship. Alongside the on-court action, the Friday of the Championship is also Kids’ Day, with lots of additional games and prizes for the perfect family day out.
DSCVR: Mubadala World Tennis Championship, 16 to 18 December 2022, International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi. @mubadalawtc
