Draw released for 2018 Mubadala World Tennis Championship with defending champ up first

Kevin Anderson will face Hyeon Chung on Day 1 at the Abu Dhabi International Tennis Centre at Zayed Sports City followed by Dominic Thiem against Karen Khachanov

The 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship takes place from December 27-29 at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Mubadala World Tennis Championship

The draw for the 2018 Mubadala World Tennis Championship was announced Wednesday, with Kevin Anderson beginning his title defence against Hyeon Chung on December 27.

South African Anderson, making his third appearance at the three-day exhibition event in Abu Dhabi, faces the South Korean Australian Open semi-finalist making his debut in the capital.

World No 6 Anderson has won their two previous encounters.

The day’s second match will see world No 8 Dominic Thiem take on another Abu Dhabi debutant in Karen Khachanov. Thiem, who made his debut at the MWTC last year and also reached his first grand slam final at the French Open in May, faces the world No 11 for a place in the semi-finals.

World No 1 and 14-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic and world No 2 Rafael Nadal, who will be making his ninth appearance at MWTC, both received byes until Day 2 on December 28, where they will face the winners of the previous day's play.

Tickets for the 11th edition of the MWTC start from Dh100 and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ae or by calling 800 86 823 and all Virgin megastores across the UAE.

Children aged between 2 to 12 years can enter for free on Day 1, along with the purchase of one adult ticket.

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