ABU DHABI

Negotiations are understood to be at an advanced stage between prominent events organisers in Abu Dhabi and the world’s top-six men’s players to bring a three-day, unsanctioned tournament to the capital to kick off the sporting new year.

The plan is to secure contracts for that six to compete in Abu Dhabi just before the 2009 Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) season opens in neighbouring Qatar on Jan 5.

Others on the Abu Dhabi list are the world No 1 Rafael Nadal, the Spaniard who earlier this year swapped places with Switzerland’s Roger Federer, a man who has a residence in Dubai and has won the popular tournament at the Aviation Club there on four occasions, Novak Djokovic, the outstanding young Serb, Spain’s David Ferrer and Nikolay Davydenko, of Russia.

The unsanctioned showpiece involving the world’s top six would undoubtedly assist in any future initiative to present an official men’s draw of 32 players.