Andy Murray answers Emirati fan's call

9/28/2016 1:29:17 AM

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Andy Murray has confirmed his return for the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi. The interesting part is the manner in which the Olympic and Wimbledon Champion announced his return to Abu Dhabi. He responded to a picture on social media from Emirati junior player Hassan Al Nowais.

On Saturday, Emirati junior player Hassan Al Nowais made a Facebook query asking the World Number 2 if he would come back and play in the December 29-31 season-opener.

Al Nowais, 13, is a fan of Murray and a regular participant in the Mubadala Community Cup. He shared a picture of himself on the tennis court at Zayed Sports City with a sign asking the three-time Grand Slam winner and double Olympic gold medallist to return to Abu Dhabi. The simple sign said 'Andy Come Play!'

On Sunday, Murray replied by reposting the photo to his Facebook account, confirming he would return to Abu Dhabi, where he has won the Mubadala World Tennis Championship twice.

Murray is set to bring the sizzle to an unmissable ninth edition of the season-opening championship presented by FLASH Entertainment, the region's premier live events company, in partnership with Mubadala.

This could signal a potentially epic rematch of this year's Wimbledon final if Murray meets in-form Milos Raonic, who is also confirmed to return to the Mubadala World Tennis Championship this year.

Murray said: "It's always special to be part of something that is actually helping to grow the sport I love. There is clearly a new and young tennis community growing in Abu Dhabi and I'm touched Hassan asked if I was coming back. I'm looking forward to returning to this great tournament."

Al Nowais is just one of hundreds of young tennis players involved in the Mubadala Community Cup, one of the region's largest amateur tennis tournaments.

Al Nowais said: "I'm very excited Andy replied to my message and will come back to Abu Dhabi. I love this tournament and the game of tennis, and my friends and I will be there to cheer him and the other players on."

Tickets to the 2016 Mubadala World Tennis Championship start from Dh50 for Category 2 seating. Tickets are on sale at www.ticketmaster.ae and all Virgin Megastores across the UAE.

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