By Adrianna Outlaw
© Tony Chang/Chang Photography

(November 2, 2010) Marcos Baghdatis, the Moscow runner-up last month, announced his 2010 season has run its course. Baghdatis pulled out of this week's Basel tournament with a shoulder injury that has forced him out of next week's Paris Masters, effectively ending his season.

"Sad to miss out in Basel," Baghdatis announced on Twitter. "My year is at an end now as I also won’t play Paris because of my shoulder."

The 25-year-old shotmaker from Cyprus started the season beating Viktor Troicki, Lleyton Hewitt, Mardy Fish and Richard Gasquet in succession to win his fourth career title in Sydney. Baghdatis beat Roger Federer for the first time, 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(5), at Indian Wells, reached semifinals in Munich (losing to Marin Cilic) and Cincinnati (falling to Federer) and was runner-up to David Nalbandian in Washington, DC and to Troicki in Moscow.

The 20th-ranked Baghdatis wraps up the year with a 43-27 record.

The 2006 Australian Open runner-up has often played his best tennis at the start of the season. Baghdatis will join World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, Federer, Robin Soderling, Tomas Berdych and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in playing the Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition set for December 30th-January 1st at the recently upgraded Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex at Zayed Sports City.

"Abu Dhabi is a very special place to me.  I’ve enjoyed the best season of my career so far and it all started with a victory in Abu Dhabi, so it holds great memories," Nadal said. "The early season momentum gained in Abu Dhabi is good preparation for the Australian Open." 

The 24-year-old Spaniard followed up his season opening win in Abu Dhabi writing his name into the record books, by becoming just the seventh player in history and the youngest player in the Open Era, to complete the Career Grand-Slam.

"Everything about Abu Dhabi and the tournament from the weather, facilities and the atmosphere in the stadium, make it the ideal place to start my season," Nadal said. "Having seen the strength of the field, I look forward to returning to defend my title in a fantastic city that loves tennis and is emerging as one of the world’s great sporting destinations."

Before the event begins, a number of community initiatives are taking place, including the Mubadala Tennis in School program, which provides free coaching and equipment for children between the ages of seven and twelve, and the Mubadala Community Cup – a community tournament for tennis enthusiasts running across the Emirates.  A Tennis Village, which will be free to the public, will also offer a range of activities including player signings, practice sessions and competitions.

Tickets are available now at www.thinkflash.ae or call 800 FLASH (35274). For more information please www.mubadalawtc.com. 

Schedule of Play:

•    Thursday 30 December:               Match 1 at 3:00 p.m. followed by Match 2
•    Friday 31 December:                     Match 1 at 3:00 p.m. followed by Match 2
•    Saturday 1 January:                      Match 1 at 3:00 p.m. 3rd V 4th Playoff Match   
•    Saturday 1 January:                       Match 2 at 5:00 p.m. Final