Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament

Rafael Nadal will kick off the new season with his performance in the Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament, scheduled from Thursday, December 29th to Saturday, December 31st. He will share the stage with the world number one, Andy Murray, as well as Jo Wilfried Tsonga, David Goffin, Tomas Berdych, and Milos Raonic.

Nadal, the current champion of the tournament held at the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City, will start his journey in this eighth edition against Berdych. It will be the return of the Mallorcan tennis player to the courts after two and a half months, following his decision to end the season to recover from a left wrist injury.

Rafael Nadal, who concluded 2016 with victories in the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 and Barcelona Open, aims to win his fourth trophy in Abu Dhabi. This event seeks to promote tennis in the United Arab Emirates and traditionally marks the beginning of a new season.

Abu Dhabi will mark the start of Nadal's season, and he will continue his journey on the circuit in 2017 with the Brisbane tournament, from January 1st to 8th, before the Australian Open, from January 16th to 29th.

Afterwards, the Spanish tennis player, who finished ninth in the rankings, will continue his season in Rotterdam and Acapulco before facing the Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte Carlo Masters 1000 tournaments from March to April. Nadal will also participate in the Barcelona Open and the Madrid Masters 1000. He will then compete in Rome before facing Roland Garros from May 28th to June 11th.

Nadal will make his entrance in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, December 29th at 16:00 Spanish time, against Tomas Berdych, following the match between David Goffin and Jo Wilfried Tsonga two hours earlier.

The winner of the match between Nadal and Berdych will play against Milos Raonic in the semifinal. On the other side of the tournament bracket, Andy Murray, the world number one, awaits the winner of the match between Goffin and Tsonga in the other scheduled match for December 30th.

On Saturday, the last day of the year, the match for the third and fourth place will be played, as well as the final.