ABU DHABI, October 24, 2017

Organizers of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship (MWTC) announced on Tuesday the final two players to compete at this year’s 10th edition of the tournament, held from 28 to 30 December 2017 at the International Tennis Center at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi.

12-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka have been confirmed to join current world number one Rafael Nadal, Pablo Carreño Busta of Spain, Austrian young gun Dominic Thiem and Canadian Milos Raonic.

Djokovic, who clinched the title in Abu Dhabi three times is keen on getting back to competition. The 30-year-old from Serbia has been sidelined from the courts since Wimbledon.

“I am extremely excited to return to Abu Dhabi for the fifth time and take part in the 10th Edition of the Championship. It is a huge honour to take part in such a special tournament. The line-up is very strong as always and it will be the perfect way to make my comeback and begin the season. Abu Dhabi is an amazing place and this is going to be a great event for all of the fans,” Djokovic stated.

Wawrinka has always considered the MWTC the best way to begin the new season. The Swiss will make his fifth appearance in the desert.

“It is always a pleasure to kick the season off at the beautiful event in Abu Dhabi. The fans are amazing there and the draw is as strong as always with a lot of great players. My recovery is going well and I can’t wait to be back on court. I’m working hard together with my team and looking forward to being back,” Wawrinka said.

The MWTC is held in an unique ‘winner takes all’ format. The champion will claim $250,000 in prize money.