Gael Monfils debuts in Abu Dhabi to catch some good form – Tennis News
World number 16, France’s Gael Monfils, is eager to take part in the Mubadala World Tennis Championship by the end of this month. The French will be making his debut at the event to be held from 29th to 31st of December at the International Tennis Complex at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi.
Monfils had a brilliant 2011 ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) season and desires to have an impactful start at the coming year. His Abu Dhabi campaign will give him the required momentum for the 2012 season and will play a vital role in his preparations for the first Grand slam of the year, the Australian Open.
The Frenchman will go one-on-one with the world number one, Novak Djokovic of Serbia, who is also taking part in the event for the first time as well. The top ranked Serb will be seen in action for the first time since the season finale, the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, in London.
“This is my first time ever in Abu Dhabi. I’ve heard so much about the tournament and cannot wait to see the Emirate, enjoy the atmosphere and get my season started,” said Monfils, “For me there is no bigger way to start the season, testing myself against the very best on day 1 with a winner takes-all prize and a player line-up that includes my main rivals in 2012. This type of challenge is the very reason I play the game and I’m ready for it.”
Monfils had an encouraging 2011 ATP season, finishing with a 38-16 winning record and one championship title to his name. The 25-year-old reached his career best ranking of world number seven this July but his inconsistency pushed him down to number 16 by the year end. Monfils also qualified for the quarter-finals of the Roland Garros, after taking down the seventh ranked David Ferrer, but was outdone by the brilliance of the Swiss maestro, Roger Federer, in the round of eight.
The Frenchman is 0-8 against Djokovic in singles encounters and will step on the courts of Abu Dhabi as the underdog. The Serbian had already stung two crushing defeats to Monfils this year, first at the Montreal Masters and then at the Cincinnati Masters, both in the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000 level events. Four out of eight encounters of Monfils and Djokovic ended up in the final set and it is anticipated that the French will again pose some serious resistance to the top ranked Serb this month.
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