ABU DHABI: Former global primary and 12-time primary winner Novak Djokovic will face Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut in his first match in nearly six months at the Mubadala global championships on Friday.
ALSO READ: Fitness comes first for returning Murray, Djokovic
Bautista Agut, the sector number 20 from Spain, arrange the showdown against Djokovic via seeing off flamboyant younger Russian Andrey Rublev 7-5, 6-2 on Thursday.
Djokovic hasn't played since retiring from his quarter-final at Wimbledon against Tomas Berdych in July with an elbow damage.
The 30-year-old will make his comeback on Friday prior to launching his competitive campaign as most sensible seed at the Qatar Open next week.
Bautista Agut, 29, took benefit of the hard-hitting Rublev's a large number of unforced mistakes to win in 88 minutes.
ALSO READ: Djokovic brings Stepanek into training team
Rublev was once damaged two times in each and every set and even though he saved four match points in the 8th game of the second, his aggression once once more value him as he netted a powerful forehand to finish the match.
Bautista Agut has received just one in all seven matches against Djokovic, now ranked at 12 in the world, in his occupation.
South African global number 14 Kevin Anderson provided the primary upset of the three-day Abu Dhabi event, defeating the 10th ranked Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta in the opening match on Thursday.
The 31-year-old Anderson hasn't ever lost to Carreno Busta at the ATP Tour, taking part in a Three-0 advantage over his rival, including a semi-final win in this yr's US Open, and he by no means looked in bother with an confident 6-Three, 7-6 (7/2) win.
Anderson broke Carreno Busta early in the second game of the opening set, after which his aggression paid off in the second-set tie-breaker as he earned a place in the semi-finals on Friday against global number five Dominic Thiem of Austria.
"It was a good start for me. The court here is similar to the ones in Australia and they use the same balls. I have worked hard on my game during the pre-season and to be able to put some of those things into a match situation and succeed, was a good feeling," stated Anderson as he builds in opposition to the season's first Grand Slam in Melbourne next month.
Another spotlight of the UAE match would be the comeback of former women's primary Serena Williams on Saturday.
The 36-year-old American, essentially the most a hit participant in the Open generation with 23 Grand Slam titles, plays French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in a match scheduled to be held prior to the men's final.
Williams was once ultimate seen in action successful the Australian Open this January. She then took a sabbatical to present birth to her first kid, Alexis Olympia, in September.
ALSO READ: Fitness comes first for returning Murray, Djokovic
Bautista Agut, the sector number 20 from Spain, arrange the showdown against Djokovic via seeing off flamboyant younger Russian Andrey Rublev 7-5, 6-2 on Thursday.
Djokovic hasn't played since retiring from his quarter-final at Wimbledon against Tomas Berdych in July with an elbow damage.
The 30-year-old will make his comeback on Friday prior to launching his competitive campaign as most sensible seed at the Qatar Open next week.
Bautista Agut, 29, took benefit of the hard-hitting Rublev's a large number of unforced mistakes to win in 88 minutes.
ALSO READ: Djokovic brings Stepanek into training team
Rublev was once damaged two times in each and every set and even though he saved four match points in the 8th game of the second, his aggression once once more value him as he netted a powerful forehand to finish the match.
Bautista Agut has received just one in all seven matches against Djokovic, now ranked at 12 in the world, in his occupation.
South African global number 14 Kevin Anderson provided the primary upset of the three-day Abu Dhabi event, defeating the 10th ranked Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta in the opening match on Thursday.
The 31-year-old Anderson hasn't ever lost to Carreno Busta at the ATP Tour, taking part in a Three-0 advantage over his rival, including a semi-final win in this yr's US Open, and he by no means looked in bother with an confident 6-Three, 7-6 (7/2) win.
Anderson broke Carreno Busta early in the second game of the opening set, after which his aggression paid off in the second-set tie-breaker as he earned a place in the semi-finals on Friday against global number five Dominic Thiem of Austria.
"It was a good start for me. The court here is similar to the ones in Australia and they use the same balls. I have worked hard on my game during the pre-season and to be able to put some of those things into a match situation and succeed, was a good feeling," stated Anderson as he builds in opposition to the season's first Grand Slam in Melbourne next month.
Another spotlight of the UAE match would be the comeback of former women's primary Serena Williams on Saturday.
The 36-year-old American, essentially the most a hit participant in the Open generation with 23 Grand Slam titles, plays French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in a match scheduled to be held prior to the men's final.
Williams was once ultimate seen in action successful the Australian Open this January. She then took a sabbatical to present birth to her first kid, Alexis Olympia, in September.
Djokovic to face Bautista Agut in Abu Dhabi comeback
![Djokovic to face Bautista Agut in Abu Dhabi comeback]()
Reviewed by Kailash
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December 29, 2017
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