Abu Dhabi: After having lost the world No 1 ranking to Rafael Nadal and being denied his sixth successive Wimbledon title by the Spaniard, Roger Federer will attempt to regain lost glory in 2009 in the $250,000 (Dh917,500) Capitala World Tennis Championship starting in Abu Dhabi on January 1, 2009.
The three-day tournament features both Federer and Nadal along with the world's top ten tennis players - Andy Murray, Nikolay Davydenko, Andy Roddick and James Blake.
Hoping for a better start to the year compared to last year, Federer said he was looking forward to starting the year on a winning note.
"I am looking forward to the tournament in Abu Dhabi taking place for the first time, as well as the entire season of 2009," Federer said on his website.
"After a wonderful and very relaxing seaside holiday I am now in the final stage of preparation for the new season.
"Never before have I started a tennis-year as early as the one ahead. I will be back in action. There are such a large number of challenges lying ahead - facing them, working hard and giving my best is my goal," Federer said.
The 28-year-old Swiss ace, who was overshadowed by Nadal in 2008, said, "Looking back at the past 365 days brings back a lot of unforgettable experiences. But there are, of course, also the tough moments I had to go through.
"Precisely 12 months ago, I faced an unexpectedly difficult training period and exhausting start to the season due to illness. I spent a great deal of the year battling the lack of practice by putting in hours of training."
On the brighter side, Federer picked his US Open win and the doubles gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"Having played another three Grand Slam finals and having brought home the US Open trophy as well as reaching Olympic heights together with Stan Wawrinka makes me very proud," he said.
"I feel honoured to receive the Laureus title as - Athlete of the Year' again and also lift the trophy at my home tournament in Basel once more. These are some of the truly wonderful, emotional moments I had the privilege to experience," said the winner of 13 Grand Slams and one of the the game's greats.
After the Abu Dhabi event, Federer flies to Doha for the Qatar Open (January 5) and plays the AAMI Classic in Kooyong, Australia before the first Grand Slam of the year - the Australian Open starting on January 19 in Melbourne.
The maestro will be back in the UAE in February for the Barclays Dubai Open starting from February 23.
