2009 Capitala World Tennis Championship
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Capitala World Tennis Championship was a non-ATP affiliated exhibition tournament. It was the first edition of the event held in Abu Dhabi
, from January 1 through January 3 2009 and. Six of the world's top ten were competing in the knockout event, which had prize money of $250,000 to the winner. The event was held at the Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex
at the Zayed Sports City
in Abu Dhabi
, UAE. It served as a warm-up event for the season, with the ATP World Tour
beginning on January 5 2009.
Rafael Nadal
(world number 1) and Roger Federer
(number 2) received byes to the semi-final.
and Nikolay Davydenko
started the tournament on January 1. Davydenko won the match in straight sets 6–4, 6–4. Roddick won his first service game with three straight aces but was broken in his next service game and Davydenko held his serves to take the set. At 4-4 in the second he was again broken and Davydenko then held his serve to win the match and set up a match with Nadal.
Later in the day Andy Murray beat James Blake
6–2, 6–2 in a match lasting less than one hour. Murray broke Blake twice in each set to win the match. He broke Blake for the first time in the third game and then established a 5-2 lead with another break. He then took a 4-0 lead in the second set. Murray went through to face former world no. 1 Roger Federer
in the semi-finals.
In the second semi-final Davydenko faced Nadal. The Russian broke Nadal to love in the first game of the match but he won just one more game in the set as he lost it 6-2. The second set began just as the first, with a break for Davydenko but Nadal immediately broke back. In the sixth game, with Davydenko serving at 3-2 down, Nadal gained another break and which the Russian could not recover, with the Spaniard taking the set 6-3 for a 6-2, 6-3 victory. Nadal went through to the final to play Murray.
Andy Murray def. 
Rafael Nadal
6–4, 5–7, 6–3
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
, from January 1 through January 3 2009 and. Six of the world's top ten were competing in the knockout event, which had prize money of $250,000 to the winner. The event was held at the Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex
Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex
The Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex, is a sports arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.The complex opened in 2004 as part of the Zayed Sports City. It has a seating capacity of 5000 on Centre Court and 600 on Court 2...
at the Zayed Sports City
Zayed Sports City
Located in the heart of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Zayed Sports City is the leading destination for sports and entertainment in the UAE.Zayed Sports City features a host of different facilities that are ideal for training, corporate events, concerts, and team sports...
in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
, UAE. It served as a warm-up event for the season, with the ATP World Tour
2009 ATP World Tour
The Association of Tennis Professionals World Tour is the elite professional tennis circuit organised by the ATP. The 2009 ATP World Tour calendar comprises the Grand Slam tournaments , the ATP World Tour Masters 1000, the ATP World Tour 500 series, the ATP World Tour 250 series, the ATP World...
beginning on January 5 2009.
Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal
Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera is a Spanish professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. , he is ranked No. 2 by the Association of Tennis Professionals...
(world number 1) and Roger Federer
Roger Federer
Roger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player who held the ATP no. 1 position for a record 237 consecutive weeks, and 285 weeks overall. As of 28 November 2011, he is ranked World No. 3 by the Association of Tennis Professionals . Federer has won a men's record 16 Grand Slam singles titles...
(number 2) received byes to the semi-final.
Day One
Andy RoddickAndy Roddick
Andrew Stephen "Andy" Roddick is an American professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. He is currently the second highest-ranked American player, behind Mardy Fish....
and Nikolay Davydenko
Nikolay Davydenko
Nikolay Vladimirovich Davydenko is a Ukrainian-Russian tennis player. Davydenko's best result in a Grand Slam tournament has been reaching the semifinals, which he has done on four occasions: twice each at the French Open and the U.S. Open. His biggest achievement to date was winning the 2009 ATP...
started the tournament on January 1. Davydenko won the match in straight sets 6–4, 6–4. Roddick won his first service game with three straight aces but was broken in his next service game and Davydenko held his serves to take the set. At 4-4 in the second he was again broken and Davydenko then held his serve to win the match and set up a match with Nadal.
Later in the day Andy Murray beat James Blake
James Blake
James Riley Blake is an American professional tennis player. Blake is known for his speed and powerful, flat forehand. As of August 2011, Blake is ranked no. 63 among active male players with 24 career finals appearances...
6–2, 6–2 in a match lasting less than one hour. Murray broke Blake twice in each set to win the match. He broke Blake for the first time in the third game and then established a 5-2 lead with another break. He then took a 4-0 lead in the second set. Murray went through to face former world no. 1 Roger Federer
Roger Federer
Roger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player who held the ATP no. 1 position for a record 237 consecutive weeks, and 285 weeks overall. As of 28 November 2011, he is ranked World No. 3 by the Association of Tennis Professionals . Federer has won a men's record 16 Grand Slam singles titles...
in the semi-finals.
Day Two
Day Two began with the first semi-final between Federer and Murray. Federer broke Murray early on to open up a 3-0 lead but Murray broke back to level the match at 3-3. With a tiebreak looming Federer broke for the set. Murray took the second 6-2 to level the match. In the final set, Murray continued his winning run of games, taking a 4-1 lead but, after missing an opportunity for 5-1, Federer won the next three games. The set went to a tiebreak which Murray edged 8-6 to reach the final and to beat Federer for the fifth time.In the second semi-final Davydenko faced Nadal. The Russian broke Nadal to love in the first game of the match but he won just one more game in the set as he lost it 6-2. The second set began just as the first, with a break for Davydenko but Nadal immediately broke back. In the sixth game, with Davydenko serving at 3-2 down, Nadal gained another break and which the Russian could not recover, with the Spaniard taking the set 6-3 for a 6-2, 6-3 victory. Nadal went through to the final to play Murray.
Day Three
The final saw Nadal take on Murray. The first two games went with serve. But Murray broke Nadal in his next service game, after a third break point. Nadal, however, broke back in the eighth game. Murray then won the next two games to take the set 6-4. The second set started with four straight service holds before Murray got a break to lead 3-2. With victory in sight for Murray, Nadal broke straight back. He then got another break in the 12th game and closed out the set 7-5. In the seventh game of the final set Murray gained the decisive break in a game lasting 14 minutes. Murray held on to win the debut edition and to beat Federer and Nadal at the same tournament for the first time.Players
- Rafael NadalRafael NadalRafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera is a Spanish professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. , he is ranked No. 2 by the Association of Tennis Professionals...
- ATP No. 1 
Roger FedererRoger FedererRoger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player who held the ATP no. 1 position for a record 237 consecutive weeks, and 285 weeks overall. As of 28 November 2011, he is ranked World No. 3 by the Association of Tennis Professionals . Federer has won a men's record 16 Grand Slam singles titles...
- ATP No. 2- Andy Murray - ATP No. 4
Nikolay DavydenkoNikolay DavydenkoNikolay Vladimirovich Davydenko is a Ukrainian-Russian tennis player. Davydenko's best result in a Grand Slam tournament has been reaching the semifinals, which he has done on four occasions: twice each at the French Open and the U.S. Open. His biggest achievement to date was winning the 2009 ATP...
- ATP No. 5
Andy RoddickAndy RoddickAndrew Stephen "Andy" Roddick is an American professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. He is currently the second highest-ranked American player, behind Mardy Fish....
- ATP No. 8- James BlakeJames BlakeJames Riley Blake is an American professional tennis player. Blake is known for his speed and powerful, flat forehand. As of August 2011, Blake is ranked no. 63 among active male players with 24 career finals appearances...
- ATP No. 10
Champion
Andy Murray def. Rafael NadalRafael Nadal
Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera is a Spanish professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. , he is ranked No. 2 by the Association of Tennis Professionals...
6–4, 5–7, 6–3
- It was Murray's 1st win at the event, making him the first winner of the tournament's history.