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Tsonga praises
 Mubadala Tennis

Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga showered praise on the Abu Dhabi Mubadala World Tennis Championship, calling it one of the best tournaments in the tennis season — even though it’s not an ATP event.

“It’s a great tournament for many reasons. First, the organizers are great. They make sure that the tournament has great success. It has superb facilities. The crowds are awesome. And then it gives the fans here the chance to watch a top player like Nadal twice even if he loses the first match. I really enjoy playing here,” the world number 10 said after his third place playoff match on Saturday.

Tsonga was in great form in the three-day tournament, playing three very good matches against Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. But the Frenchman says it is Djokovic’s form which has impressed him the most going into the new season.

“It’s still very early to come to any conclusion. But from what I experienced, I can say that Novak is in great form. Yes, I played Andy and Rafa. They did pretty well too. But Novak is really doing well,” the French Open semi-finalist said.

Tsonga, meanwhile, said he should have been able to take his chances in his 7-5 6-3 loss to Nadal in Saturday’s third place playoff match in Abu Dhabi.

“Today I played better than Rafa in the first set. I was able to dominate the points. I was serving really well. I had better chances in the first set, but I couldn’t take those. You can’t do that against a player like Rafa.

“In the second set, I couldn’t play at the same level. Also, Rafa began to play much better. I think I need to practise more. It’s still very early in the season. Overall, I think I did pretty well here in Abu Dhabi. I am happy with what I have done, considering that I was coming back from a serious knee injury.”

rituraj@khaleejtimes.com