Some of the top tennis players in the world will return to the UAE as the World Tennis League unveiled a star-studded line-up of players for the third season.
The tournament will see the best men's and women's players compete at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi from December 19 to 22 later this year.
Among those in action will be two Olympic gold medalists, five Grand Slam champions, six of the top 12 male players, and six of the top 10 female players.
World No2 Aryna Sabalenka, fresh off her recent US Open triumph, returns to the World Tennis League alongside top ranked Iga Swiatek, who secured bronze at the Paris Olympics as well as a third consecutive French Open title earlier this year.
Interestingly, on Friday Swiatek announced she has split with her coach Tomasz Wiktorowski and as a result will not compete in next week's WTA tournament in Wuhan.
This year's Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova and women’s doubles Paris Olympics gold medalist Jasmine Paolini will be making their debut.
Other stars in the tournament are world No4 Elena Rybakina, Paula Badosa and Caroline Garcia.
In the men's section, world No5 Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, who were part of the WTL 2023 title-winning team Eagles, will compete again at the competition. Also in action will be 2024 US Open runner-up Taylor Fritz, Hubert Hurkacz and Casper Ruud.
Among the male stars, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Sumit Nagal and Aussie star Nick Kyrgios will also return for the show in Abu Dhabi.
The previous edition of the WTL attracted over 20,000 attendees and was broadcast live in more than 125 countries. The event featured world-class artists who performed at Yas Island.
Last year, the format saw players split into four teams with two matches every day from Day 1 to 3 with categories including men’s and women’s singles and doubles, and mixed doubles.
Concert ticket holders can secure discounted add-on ticket for the day's matches. Tickets are available at etihadarena.ae.
Players at WTL 2024
Women: Iga Swiątek, Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jasmine Paolini, Barbora Krejcikova, Paula Badosa, Mirra Andreeva, Caroline Garcia
Men: Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Taylor Fritz, Hubert Hurkacz, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Sumit Nagal, Nick Kyrgios
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Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
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Low turnout
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.
Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.
"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
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