The World Tennis League in Abu Dhabi is one of the most significant tournaments during the off-season, and players like Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek are among those who have discovered their teams for this year's edition.
Each team at the World Tennis League has two men and two women. The four teams are the Kites, Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons. 2023's edition was won by the Eagles, while the Hawks prevailed in 2022.
A men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles match are played in each tie between the teams in a round-robin format before the top two teams face in the final.
This year's World Tennis League will be played from December 19th to 22nd. There is an outstanding line-up of players for the tournament, and the four teams have been announced.
Aryna Sabalenka has been placed on Team Hawks. Her teammates will hope she brings the form that saw the 26-year-old end 2024 as the year-end No. 1, something she was recognized for at the WTA Finals.
The three-time Grand Slam champion lost in the semifinal of the WTA Finals to Coco Gauff, the eventual winner, but Sabalenka usually starts seasons very strongly, as evidenced by winning the last two Australian Opens.
Teenage prodigy Mirra Andreeva is the other female player on Team Hawks. Her best moment of the 2024 season came when she defeated Sabalenka in the French Open quarterfinal, although the Belarusian struggled physically in that contest.
This year's US Open runner-up, Taylor Fritz, has also been put on Team Hawks. The American is currently competing at the ATP Finals, losing his last match to Jannik Sinner. Sumit Nagal, who had a terrible final few months in 2024, completes the team.
Iga Swiatek is on Team Eagles. The World Tennis League will be just her third tournament at any level with new coach Wim Fissette. She failed to get past the round-robin stage at the WTA Finals despite winning two matches in her first event alongside Fissette.
Swiatek was set to play on Wednesday at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals against Spain, but it was postponed due to a severe weather warning. The Pole will rest until the World Tennis League after the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, who recently responded to a journalist who mocked her appearance, three-time French Open runner-up Casper Ruud, and Hubert Hurkacz are the other players who will line up for Team Eagles.
Nick Kyrgios, who will return to professional tennis at the 2025 Australian Open, is on Team Kites. Interestingly, he has been placed on a team with Stefanos Tsitsipas, with whom he had a very heated battle at Wimbledon in 2022.
Tsitsipas is also on the same team as his girlfriend, Paula Badosa, creating another interesting dynamic. Jasmine Paolini, one of the happiest and most affable people in tennis, completes the group, and her positivity might be needed on that team.
Elena Rybakina, who returned after over two months out at the WTA Finals, has been placed on Team Falcons. She is joined by Caroline Garcia, Daniil Medvedev, and Andrey Rublev.
| Team Eagles | Team Falcons | Team Kites | Team Hawks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iga Swiatek | Elena Rybakina | Jasmine Paolini | Aryna Sabalenka |
| Barbora Krejcikova | Caroline Garcia | Paula Badosa | Mirra Andreeva |
| Casper Ruud | Daniil Medvedev | Stefanos Tsitsipas | Taylor Fritz |
| Hubert Hurkacz | Andrey Rublev | Nick Kyrgios | Sumit Nagal |