A decade of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi

The first tennis championship event took place a decade ago in 2009

Novak Djokovic at Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2012 AFP

Seven years ago, Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic won his second title in Abu Dhabi at the 2012 Mubadala World Tennis Championship. He won on Saturday, December 29, to be exact. It was the fifth iteration of the ­international men's singles tournament held ­annually at the Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex.

This photo shows the current world ­number two men’s singles champion returning the ball to Spain’s David Ferrer during their match on Friday, December 28. The pair had played in the final the year before, and went on to play the final against each other in 2013, too. Djokovic won both times. In 2012, he beat Spain’s Nicolas Almagro in a tense final match.

To date, Djovokic has won four times in the capital, as he also clinched the title in 2018 when he played a final round against South African player Kevin Anderson. Spain’s Rafael Nadal has won the most, however, ­having claimed the trophy a total of five times, including last weekend.

The first Mubadala World Tennis ­Championship took place a decade ago, in 2009: the event was conceived as a way to promote the sport in the region.

Ever since, it has attracted the best and most world-renowned names in tennis, who come to the capital ahead of the ATP Tour. In 2017, a women's singles tournament was added to the agenda, which this year was won by Russian star Maria Sharapova.