ABU DHABI: Olympic champion Belinda Bencic of Switzerland will take on US Open winner Emma Raducanu in the opening-day women’s match at the the 13th Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi in December, organizers Flash Entertainment have announced.
The match will take place at the International Tennis Center in Zayed Sports City on Thursday, Dec. 16.
Former world No.4 Bencic produced some stunning tennis to win gold in the singles and silver in the doubles at the Tokyo Olympics this summer.
Her clash with Raducanu on center court in the UAE capital will also be a rematch of their US Open quarterfinal at Flushing Meadows, which the 18-year-old from the UK won before going on to win the first major of her career.
“Since we introduced the women’s match in 2017, we have welcomed some of the biggest names in the game to compete in Abu Dhabi. With that legacy in place, the goal for the Mubadala World Tennis Championship is to keep evolving to ensure we bring our knowledgeable fans the best, unrivalled experiences. With Emma and Belinda confirmed, this year’s match is set to be the most intriguing women’s match in the championship’s history,” said John Lickrish, CEO of Flash Entertainment.
Bencic, 24, said she is looking forward to playing in a new country and eager to show her US Open defeat against Raducanu was a one-off.
“When I was offered the opportunity to come and explore Abu Dhabi and all the championship has to offer, I was very excited and happy to do it. It’s great to travel to new places,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to coming, to immersing myself in the many cultures there and interacting with the fans. Emma and I played a great match in New York, and I am looking forward to another great battle, this time in Abu Dhabi.”