Frances Tiafoe set for Mubadala Tennis Championship debut

Frances Tiafoe, the 2022 US Open semi-finalist and No.2-ranked player in the United States, will make his Mubadala World Tennis Championship debut this December.

The 24-year-old will join the star-studded line-up of A-list players, including World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, World No.3 Casper Ruud, and defending champion Andrey Rublev.

"I’m super excited to travel to Abu Dhabi and compete at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship," said Tiafoe. "Playing in such a competitive tournament before the holidays and at the start of the new season is something I am really looking forward to. It’s going to be a terrific experience against an elite field, and I can’t wait to get out there."

John Lickrish, CEO, Flash Entertainment, said "Frances Tiafoe is one of the most brilliant and brightest tennis stars right now and one to watch as the next generation of tennis superstars emerge.

"I have no doubts at all he will prove a highly popular addition to this year’s Mubadala World Tennis Championship."

Born in Sierra Leone and raised in humble surroundings in Maryland, USA, Tiafoe reached his highest world ranking – No.19 – last month after becoming the first American since 2006 to reach the final four at Flushing Meadows. 

As a prodigious 15-year-old, Tiafoe scooped the 2013 Orange Bowl championship, widely regarded as being the sport’s most prestigious junior international competition. In doing so, he created history by becoming the youngest champion in boys' singles – eclipsing the achievements of John McEnroe and Roger Federer.

In 2015, he became the youngest American for 26 years to appear in the main draw of the French Open; by 2018, he had won his first ATP title at the Delray Beach Open; and in 2019, he made it to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. In 2021, he secured his biggest career victory with a win over Stefanos Tsitsipas at Wimbledon, before beating Rafael Nadal and Andrey Rublev a year later en route to the US Open semi-finals.

Celebrating its 14th edition this year, the annual Championship features six of the world’s top male players and two of the best players in the women’s game, who will contest on the tournament’s opening day on December 16. Ons Jabeur, the World No.2, 2022 US Open finalist and defending champion, will face 2021 US Open winner and British No.1 Emma Raducanu.
 
The Championship unfolds from December 16-18 at the International Tennis Centre in Zayed Sports City.
 
Tickets start from AED 95 for adults and AED 45 for children and can be purchased on the event’s official website.