Nadal started the year with a win against Federer

After two tiebreak sets in the two driver-ranked Rafael Nadal beat World No. 2 Roger Federer defended his title from Abu Dhabi by 2009. The final of this unofficial tournament two years ago the Spaniard beat Swede Robin Soderling. The final of the 2008 Nadal did yield to the Scot Andy Murray.

In the first set the game went on shared power and each of their opponents won feeds. In the tiebreaker Federer 3:0 lead but then lost kontsetratsiya and Nadal took the next 5 points. Spaniard takes advantage of a new error from Federer's forehand and closed sets.

Decide tiebreaker and the second set, this time Nadal pulled from the outset and dropped his lead.

In the match for third place in Abu Dhabi Soderling beat Tomas Berdych of 6:4, 7:6 (3).