As the 2024 season is about to begin and the Australian Open is just around the corner, tennis players are already preparing for their return to competition with training and exhibition tournaments, eagerly awaiting the start of action.
Paula Badosa has chosen the World Tennis League in Abu Dhabi to test her fitness ahead of the new season. The Catalan player has not competed since July, when she experienced problems in her lower back. She decided to end her season and withdrew from all tournaments until the Billie Jean King Cup. Badosa was motivated to represent Spain at the event in Seville in early November, but despite claiming to be pain-free, her physical condition prevented her from taking to the court.
Just a month later, the New York-born tennis player will have a new opportunity to test her strength, this time in the second edition of the World Tennis League, a mixed team tournament that will bring together top names in the tennis world such as the WTA number one, Iga Swiatek, and Daniil Medvedev.
Tournament FormatThe tournament will take place from December 21st to 24th, with 16 players competing in four different teams. They will face each other in a round-robin format. There will be one elimination match per day, consisting of a men's singles match, a women's singles match, and a mixed doubles match. The top two teams will face off in the final at the Etihad Arena.
TeamsBadosa will compete in the Kites team alongside her partner, Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas, as well as Aryna Sabalenka and Grigor Dimitrov. The other players will be distributed as follows:
- Team Eagles: Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Mirra Andreeva, and Sofia Kenin
- Team Falcons: Taylor Fritz, Sumit Nagal, Elena Rybakina, and Sorana Cirstea
- Team Hawks: Iga Swiatek, Caroline Garcia, Casper Ruud, and Hubert Hurkacz
- December 21st (3:00 PM) - Hawks vs Falcons
- December 21st (6:00 PM) - Eagles vs Kites
- December 22nd (3:00 PM) - Falcons vs Kites
- December 22nd (6:00 PM) - Eagles vs Hawks
- December 23rd (3:00 PM) - Eagles vs Falcons
- December 23rd (6:00 PM) - Kites vs Hawks
- December 24th (6:00 PM) - Final
This tournament will serve as a crucial test for Badosa, who will be able to gauge her fitness and performance against top-level opponents. It is an opportunity for her to regain her rhythm and prepare for the upcoming season, including the highly anticipated Australian Open. Tennis fans will be eagerly watching her return to the court and hoping for a successful comeback.