Even though the official tour is quiet until the new season starts later this month, some of the world's most famous tennis players are getting back into the swing of things. The World Tennis League in Abu Dhabi has attracted a stellar field, with women's World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, and No. 4 Elena Rybakina all set to play. They are joined by some of the top-ranked men, including Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Scheduled for December 22-24, 2023, the second season of the World Tennis League arrives following a brilliant debut last year. This year, 16 high-profile stars have been organized into four teams of four. The tournament uses a round-robin format, meaning every team clash involves three matches: one men's singles, one women's singles, and a mixed doubles event. Once the group stage is over, the top two teams will compete in the final match on Sunday, December 24.
Team Kites boasts a strong pairing with Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka and the top-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas, supported by Grigor Dimitrov and Paula Badosa. Meanwhile, Team Hawks is led by the Polish star Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz, with Caroline Garcia and Casper Ruud completing their roster. Not to be outdone, Team Falcons features World No. 9 Taylor Fritz, Wimbledon 2022 champion Elena Rybakina, Leylah Fernandez, and Sumit Nagal.
Leading Team Eagles is the 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, who is joined by Sofia Kenin, Andrey Rublev, and the rising teenage talent Mirra Andreeva. While last year's event featured legends like Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios, both are absent from this year's draw. However, even without the legendary Serb, the tournament still overflows with world-class talent.
Despite the exhibition status of the event, the players are expected to be highly competitive. With the new ATP and WTA seasons just around the corner, this tournament serves as the perfect warm-up, allowing athletes to fine-tune their form and test their game before heading into the 2024 Australian Open in January.
Medvedev expressed his excitement about the event, stating, 'After seeing how great the experience was for everyone last year, I'm thrilled to be part of this season's World Tennis League. I've always loved playing in the UAE and enjoy returning here; I'm hoping to end my year on a high note.'