Over the weekend, the world’s top-ranked tennis player and Tiger Beat Man of the Year, Rafael Nadal, defeated his bitter rival Roger Federer to win the Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition, marking the beginning of the 2011 ATP season and the end of days for football. The practice tournament featured Nadal, Federer, Robin Soderling, Tomas Berdych, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Marcos Baghdatis. Maybe next year, terrible American tennis players!
Since 2009, the Mubadala tournament has served as a PR launch for the ATP, as it shows the world how exciting the sport of tennis can be by having its top two stars defeat young up-and-comers, while everyone plays at a level somewhere between “Meh, there might be girls watching” and “Strictly half-assed.” But the real promotional fun doesn’t take place on the actual court, as much as a fake court that is placed in a unique location to give citizens of Doha, Qatar (the WTC exhibition was played in Nermal’s least favorite city, Abu Dahbi) a chance to witness the playful nature of tennis’ top rivalry.
For this weekend’s tournament, Nadal and Federer boarded a floating court in open water and they proceeded to smack the crap out of the ball. Or they lightly slapped it back and forth with the fear that they could drown with one poor step. Either way, I’m sold. Go tennis!
This year’s promotional effort after the jump, as well as the 2008 and 2009 excitement…
Federer and Nadal Play Tennis On Water
2010 ATP Tour Promo – Flying Carpet
2009 ATP Tour Promo – An Old Boat
