A fresh challenge awaits Marcos Baghdatis at this month\u2019s Mubadala World Tennis Championship.
\nThe gregarious Cypriot, who bowed out at 2019\u2019s Wimbledon after a successful career which saw him rise to 8th\u00a0in the world rankings plus be runner-up at 2006\u2019s Australian Open, will take over as MC at the\u00a013th\u00a0edition of the star-studded pre-season tournament from December 16-18.
\nCrowd-favourite Andy Murray and the iconic five-time champion Rafael Nadal head an eight-man field, which also includes 2021 ATP Tour sensation Casper Ruud, world number five Andrey Rublev and 2020 US Open winner Dominic Thiem. 2021 US Open phenom Emma Raducanu and Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic also meet in an eagerly anticipated women\u2019s clash.
\nBaghdatis, 36, will interview these hallowed athletes on court, plus interact with legion of passionate UAE tennis supporters off it. This is an opportunity he cannot wait to embrace.
\n\u201cFor me, it is something different and I\u2019m so excited,\u201d said Baghdatis, about the event which is making a welcome return at Zayed Sport City\u2019s International Tennis Centre with full capacity.
\n\u201cI love interacting with the crowd, fans and players. It is something different and the first time I tried something like this.
\n\u201cI think I will love it and learn something from it. Definitely, I am very excited and cannot wait for it to start.\u201d
\nMubadala is an important starting point for next season, with the Australian Open scheduled to begin on January 17, 2022. This is especially true for Nadal and Thiem.
\nThe Spaniard, a 20-time Grand Slam champion and icon of the sport,\u00a0announced an early end to 2021 in August because of a left-foot issue. Former world number three Thiem comes into next year on the back of an injury ravaged campaign,\u00a0prematurely ending prior to a cancelled US Open defence because of his wrist problem.
\nRunner-up David Goffin (l) and 2016 MWTC champion Rafael Nadal (r).
\nBaghdatis declared Mubadala will be especially vital for the celebrated duo.
\nHe said: \u201cIt is important for all the players, but Rafa and Dominic will need to play matches before the Australian Open.
\n\u201cWith Rafa, he has surprised us so many times. Not playing before the Australian Open, but then going very deep into the tournament.
\n\u201cThiem, it is his first long injury. We saw Rafa before [but not Thiem].
\n\u201cI definitely believe he will want to play a few matches in Abu Dhabi, before heading to Australia.\u201d
\nBaghdatis\u2019 playing experience at MWTC only stretched to January 2011\u2019s quarter-final defeat to Tomas Berdych. But this is an experience which left its mark.
\n\u201cUnbelievable event,\u201d he replied when asked to recall his memories. \u201cThe venue is great for the players, the hotel is amazing, the facilities are amazing, you have some practice courts.
\n\u201cIt is a great preparation tournament for these guys to be there.\u201d
\nHe added: \u201cIt is a very fun event. The most-important thing is you get to play matches at the very top level after your off season.
\n\u201cThat is what you want at that moment of the year, before you head to Australia. The matches that you play are pretty competitive, there is a nice crowd and it is a great level for the beginning of the year.
\n View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mubadala World Tennis Champs (@mubadalawtc)
\n\u201cIt is an amazing event for the players and for the fans to see the players being a bit-more relaxed.
\n“They are not playing the final of a Grand Slam.\u00a0But it is nice for the fans to see the players a bit closer and get to interact with them.\u201d
\nStar power is also plentiful in the women\u2019s match.\u00a0Raducanu garnered global attention when she became the first qualifier to claim a Grand Slam in the Open Era at Flushing Meadows,\u00a0while ex-world number four Bencic\u00a0showcased enduring quality by becoming the first Swiss female to triumph at the Games.
\n\u201cBencic maybe didn\u2019t have the best year of her career, but the craziest because of winning a gold medal,\u201d Baghdatis said. \u201cThat is just amazing.
\n\u201cEmma [Raducanu], what a story we have witnessed in the last couple of months. I think it very exciting to see those two girls after having the best emotions of their lives, the best moments of their careers.
\n\u201cI am excited to see how they react in the next year and how they are playing.\u201d
\nA change of pace has been encountered by Baghdatis since he hung up his racket two years ago.
\nEmma Raducanu with the US Open trophy.
\nUkraine\u2019s Elina Svitolina came under his guise as a coach, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has left him to explore new opportunities, including at MWTC, plus try to \u201cimprove my dad skills.\u201d
\n\u201cIn the beginning before COVID, it was great,\u201d Baghdatis said. \u201cBut COVID has made it, like everybody, life a bit different let\u2019s say\u2026
\n\u201cI enjoy it because I have three kids and a lovely family. I\u2019m trying to improve my dad skills and being a better husband.
\n\u201cThey say they are loving it, so it\u2019s great. Taking care of the kids, I always wanted a family and to spend so much time with them is amazing \u2013 I just love it.\u201d
\nHe added: \u201cCOVID came and it just wasn\u2019t for me the right moment to travel anymore. Maybe in the future we will see if I go into coaching, but my goal is to stay in tennis internationally and also locally in Cyprus.
\n\u201cI want to try and give back to a sport I love and, especially, the young kids who want to play professional tennis.
\n\u201cI just want to be there for them. We have a couple of projects coming, maybe launching a tennis academy in Cyprus.\u201d
\nMubadala is yet to gain an official spot on the ATP Tour, despite its prominence and popularity. Baghdatis was sure this status will come in time.
\n\u201cWhy not? There is no reason not to,\u201d he replied.
\n\u201cJust take the right steps and I think if it becomes an ATP Tour event, I think it will be an amazing tournament.\u201d
\nTickets, starting from Dh100 for adults and Dh50 for children, are available from\u00a0ticketmaster.ae\u00a0and Virgin Megastores across the UAE. In line with current protocols, measures will be in place within the stadium and throughout the Tennis Village to ensure the health and safety of fans, players and officials.
\nAdditionally, in line with the latest government guidelines the Championship will welcome fans and spectators with green status on the Al Hosn app and a negative PCR test result with 96-hour validity across three days of exciting tennis action, in a safe and secure environment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A fresh challenge awaits Marcos Baghdatis at this month\u2019s Mubadala World Tennis Championship.
\nThe gregarious Cypriot, who bowed out at 2019\u2019s Wimbledon after a successful career which saw him rise to 8th\u00a0in the world rankings plus be runner-up at 2006\u2019s Australian Open, will take over as MC at the\u00a013th\u00a0edition of the star-studded pre-season tournament from December 16-18.
\nCrowd-favourite Andy Murray and the iconic five-time champion Rafael Nadal head an eight-man field, which also includes 2021 ATP Tour sensation Casper Ruud, world number five Andrey Rublev and 2020 US Open winner Dominic Thiem. 2021 US Open phenom Emma Raducanu and Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic also meet in an eagerly anticipated women\u2019s clash.
\nBaghdatis, 36, will interview these hallowed athletes on court, plus interact with legion of passionate UAE tennis supporters off it. This is an opportunity he cannot wait to embrace.
\n\u201cFor me, it is something different and I\u2019m so excited,\u201d said Baghdatis, about the event which is making a welcome return at Zayed Sport City\u2019s International Tennis Centre with full capacity.
\n\u201cI love interacting with the crowd, fans and players. It is something different and the first time I tried something like this.
\n\u201cI think I will love it and learn something from it. Definitely, I am very excited and cannot wait for it to start.\u201d
\nMubadala is an important starting point for next season, with the Australian Open scheduled to begin on January 17, 2022. This is especially true for Nadal and Thiem.
\nThe Spaniard, a 20-time Grand Slam champion and icon of the sport,\u00a0announced an early end to 2021 in August because of a left-foot issue. Former world number three Thiem comes into next year on the back of an injury ravaged campaign,\u00a0prematurely ending prior to a cancelled US Open defence because of his wrist problem.
\nRunner-up David Goffin (l) and 2016 MWTC champion Rafael Nadal (r).
\nBaghdatis declared Mubadala will be especially vital for the celebrated duo.
\nHe said: \u201cIt is important for all the players, but Rafa and Dominic will need to play matches before the Australian Open.
\n\u201cWith Rafa, he has surprised us so many times. Not playing before the Australian Open, but then going very deep into the tournament.
\n\u201cThiem, it is his first long injury. We saw Rafa before [but not Thiem].
\n\u201cI definitely believe he will want to play a few matches in Abu Dhabi, before heading to Australia.\u201d
\nBaghdatis\u2019 playing experience at MWTC only stretched to January 2011\u2019s quarter-final defeat to Tomas Berdych. But this is an experience which left its mark.
\n\u201cUnbelievable event,\u201d he replied when asked to recall his memories. \u201cThe venue is great for the players, the hotel is amazing, the facilities are amazing, you have some practice courts.
\n\u201cIt is a great preparation tournament for these guys to be there.\u201d
\nHe added: \u201cIt is a very fun event. The most-important thing is you get to play matches at the very top level after your off season.
\n\u201cThat is what you want at that moment of the year, before you head to Australia. The matches that you play are pretty competitive, there is a nice crowd and it is a great level for the beginning of the year.
\n View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mubadala World Tennis Champs (@mubadalawtc)
\n\u201cIt is an amazing event for the players and for the fans to see the players being a bit-more relaxed.
\n\u201cThey are not playing the final of a Grand Slam.\u00a0But it is nice for the fans to see the players a bit closer and get to interact with them.\u201d
\nStar power is also plentiful in the women\u2019s match.\u00a0Raducanu garnered global attention when she became the first qualifier to claim a Grand Slam in the Open Era at Flushing Meadows,\u00a0while ex-world number four Bencic\u00a0showcased enduring quality by becoming the first Swiss female to triumph at the Games.
\n\u201cBencic maybe didn\u2019t have the best year of her career, but the craziest because of winning a gold medal,\u201d Baghdatis said. \u201cThat is just amazing.
\n\u201cEmma [Raducanu], what a story we have witnessed in the last couple of months. I think it very exciting to see those two girls after having the best emotions of their lives, the best moments of their careers.
\n\u201cI am excited to see how they react in the next year and how they are playing.\u201d
\nA change of pace has been encountered by Baghdatis since he hung up his racket two years ago.
\nEmma Raducanu with the US Open trophy.
\nUkraine\u2019s Elina Svitolina came under his guise as a coach, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has left him to explore new opportunities, including at MWTC, plus try to \u201cimprove my dad skills.\u201d
\n\u201cIn the beginning before COVID, it was great,\u201d Baghdatis said. \u201cBut COVID has made it, like everybody, life a bit different let\u2019s say\u2026
\n\u201cI enjoy it because I have three kids and a lovely family. I\u2019m trying to improve my dad skills and being a better husband.
\n\u201cThey say they are loving it, so it\u2019s great. Taking care of the kids, I always wanted a family and to spend so much time with them is amazing \u2013 I just love it.\u201d
\nHe added: \u201cCOVID came and it just wasn\u2019t for me the right moment to travel anymore. Maybe in the future we will see if I go into coaching, but my goal is to stay in tennis internationally and also locally in Cyprus.
\n\u201cI want to try and give back to a sport I love and, especially, the young kids who want to play professional tennis.
\n\u201cI just want to be there for them. We have a couple of projects coming, maybe launching a tennis academy in Cyprus.\u201d
\nMubadala is yet to gain an official spot on the ATP Tour, despite its prominence and popularity. Baghdatis was sure this status will come in time.
\n\u201cWhy not? There is no reason not to,\u201d he replied.
\n\u201cJust take the right steps and I think if it becomes an ATP Tour event, I think it will be an amazing tournament.\u201d
\nTickets, starting from Dh100 for adults and Dh50 for children, are available from\u00a0ticketmaster.ae\u00a0and Virgin Megastores across the UAE. In line with current protocols, measures will be in place within the stadium and throughout the Tennis Village to ensure the health and safety of fans, players and officials.
\nAdditionally, in line with the latest government guidelines the Championship will welcome fans and spectators with green status on the Al Hosn app and a negative PCR test result with 96-hour validity across three days of exciting tennis action, in a safe and secure environment.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167527"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=167527"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167527\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":167528,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167527\/revisions\/167528"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=167527"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=167527"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=167527"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}