Every year I look forward to the Mubadala World Tennis Championship.

It takes place during the festive period, which means if I’ve got family visiting for the holidays, we make a day of it, and at this point, it’s become a Christmas tradition!

Year-on-year the event, which began back in 2008, has transformed into a world-class tennis tournament and has expanded to include as much action off the court, as on. This year the event has pulled in some of the game’s biggest stars including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Maria Sharapova and Amanda Anisimova.

Mark your calendar: Here are the top reasons to visit this year

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The date switch makes it a perfect pre-holiday day out and do not miss Kids’ Day!

Perfect for anyone in Dubai before the Christmas holidays, or if you’ve got guests visiting, the date switch (the festival usually takes place post-Chrissy) is designed to enhance the festive atmosphere- so expect a holiday mood at this event!

Perfect for all ages, the event is FREE for kids on day one as ‘Day One is Kids’ Day’ returns for a second year after proving to be a big success last year.

*Kids under 12 can enter for free on December 19. One adult ticket must be purchased per entry.

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The event that goes beyond the court – give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the Village

You could spend a full day simply making the most of the tennis village, where you’ll find a range of food and drink options, and a variety of games and challenges which all ages are invited to join in on.

Plus, you might even spot some players! There’ll be opportunities to get autographs, Q&A sessions, meet and greets, and even training sessions, which is a huge draw for tennis fans!

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Expect world-class tennis

This tournament is invite-only, a custom-made event that brings the world’s most talented tennis players to compete in a single-elimination series of matches across three days.

And the championship, which has brought the likes of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, Serena and Venus Williams and Kevin Anderson, is back with a big line up.

The man who needs no introduction: 19-time Grand Slam champion and current world No 1 Rafael Nadal is confirmed

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World No. 2 and defending champion Novak Djokovic could give Rafa a run for his money

Four-time Mubadala World Tennis Championship winner, Djokovic is returning to Abu Dhabi and with this announcement, spectators are now guaranteed to see 4 of the top 6 men’s players in the world battle it out.

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No stranger to the UAE, 5 Time Grand Slam champ Maria Sharapova is one of the leading women to attend this year

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Don’t miss your chance to see future global superstar Amanda Anisimova make her Abu Dhabi debut

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The important bits:

• How much? Tickets are on sale from www.ticketmaster.ae and Virgin Megastores across the UAE, starting from AED100 per adult
• See the full range of ticket packages and prices here
• The Mubadala World Tennis Championship will take place for a landmark 12th edition on all-new dates, December 19 – 21, 2019.
• MWTC has offered Abu Dhabi world-class tennis and entertainment since 2009 welcoming the world’s most talented tennis players.