World Tennis League 2024 Returns To Abu Dhabi; Teams, Squads, How It Works

The World Tennis League 2024  is set to return to Abu Dhabi on hard courts that will run from December 19 to 22. 

It is a mixed-team tournament that will feature some of the best tennis players of the world.  Four teams will be in contention with each of them comprising two men and two women competing in a round-robin format. 

Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Paula Badosa, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Nick Kyrgios were among the initial confirmed players, but after several adjustments due to last-minute withdrawals (including Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz), players have now been confirmed. 

World Tennis League 2024: Format

Each tie features a men’s singles match, a women’s singles match, and two doubles matches (which can be men’s, women’s, or mixed doubles, depending on the team that wins the toss).

The format includes unique rules: if the trailing team wins the fourth match (making the score 2-2 after singles and doubles), the tie enters Overtime (OT). OT continues until the leading team wins one more game or the trailing team equalises the total number of games.

If the game totals are tied, the match is decided in a Super Shootout. In this decider, the home team (listed first in the schedule) chooses the player, while the opposing team decides the side of the court and whether to serve or receive first. This rule ensures that every game matters until the very last moment, guaranteeing intense and competitive matches.

World Tennis League 2024: Teams and Squads

Team Eagles will be led by 5-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, and comprises Paula Badosa (No. 12) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 11). Completing the team is Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko (No. 78), recently confirmed as a replacement for Hubert Hurkacz.

Team Falcons: 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina (No. 6) and Russia’s Andrey Rublev (No. 8) are their top-ranked players. They’ll be joined by Caroline Garcia (No. 48) and Denis Shapovalov (No. 56).

Team Hawks: They are led by world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, also faced last-minute changes. Taylor Fritz’s withdrawal opened the door for Australian Jordan Thompson (No. 26), who will debut in the competition. The team is rounded out by teenager Mirra Andreeva (No. 16), a key player in the Hawks’ victory last year, and rising Indian star Sumit Nagal (No. 98).

Team Kites:  Headlined by two top-10 players: 3-time Grand Slam runner-up Casper Ruud (No. 6) and 2-time major finalist Jasmine Paolini (No. 4), the team also features former Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion Simona Halep and Nick Kyrgios.

Team Eagles

Team Falcons

Team Hawks

Team Kites

The World Tennis League is a non-ATP/WTA-affiliated exhibition mixed-gender team tennis tournament. This will be the third edition of the World Tennis League. 

Also Read: Love On The Court: Tennis Most Iconic Couples