Djokovic, Nadal loom for Anderson in the desert

Cape Town - South African tennis star Kevin Anderson starts his preparation for the 2019 Australian Open at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi later this month.

The world No 6 is the defending champion at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship (MWTC) which is scheduled for December 27-29.

Anderson defeated Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 7-6 (7/0) in last year’s final.

The other men’s players participating include world No 1 Novak Djokovic, No 2 Rafael Nadal, No 8 Dominic Thiem, No 11 Karen Khachanov and No 25 Hyeon Chung.

Anderson will face South Korea’s Chung on December 27 and if he wins his first match he will face either Djokovic or Nadal the following day.

The world's two top-ranked players have byes in the first round and will face the winners of the opening day's action.

On the women’s side, American sisters Serena and Venus Williams are also in action.