You know those off-season exhibition matches that usually feel like a glorified practice session?
The World Tennis League 2024 was absolutely not that.
Between December 19 and 22, the Etihad Arena on Yas Island turned into a pressure cooker. It wasn't just about the tennis; it was this weird, high-energy blend of world-class baseline battles and massive concerts by people like Akon and Bryan Adams. Honestly, the atmosphere was more like a Vegas residency than a traditional ATP or WTA tournament.
But when you put Iga Świątek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Andrey Rublev on a court—even in an "exhibition"—the competitive switch just flips. They can't help themselves.
The Comeback That Defined the World Tennis League 2024
Most people expected the final on December 22 to be a one-sided affair after the way it started.
The Team Falcons (Andrey Rublev, Elena Rybakina, Denis Shapovalov, and Caroline Garcia) were staring down a massive hole early on. They were playing the Team Hawks, featuring world number one Aryna Sabalenka and the teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva.
Things looked bleak for the Falcons. Really bleak.
Sabalenka and Andreeva took the women's doubles in a tie-break. Then, Andreeva basically dismantled Rybakina 6-2 in the singles. At that point, the Hawks were leading 13-8. In this format, where every single game counts toward the final score, a five-game lead is like a mountain.
Then the men took over.
Andrey Rublev and Denis Shapovalov stepped onto the court for the doubles against Sumit Nagal and Jordan Thompson. They didn't just win; they dominated, taking the set 6-2. Suddenly, the gap was just one game.
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The whole thing came down to Rublev versus Nagal in the final singles set. Rublev was on fire. He played with that frantic, high-intensity energy he's known for, winning 6-1 and sealing a 20-16 victory for the Falcons.
It was a total turnaround.
One minute the Hawks are celebrating a comfortable lead, and the next, the Falcons are lifting the trophy. That’s the beauty—or the stress—of the WTL format.
Why the Format is Kinda Genius
If you're used to "best of three sets," the WTL will mess with your head.
Basically, a "tie" consists of four sets:
- Women’s Doubles
- Women’s Singles
- Men’s Doubles
- Men’s Singles
(Sometimes they swap in Mixed Doubles depending on the day).
You don't win by winning sets; you win by winning the most total games. If the score is tied after the final set, they go into a "Super Shoot-out," which is a 10-point tiebreaker.
It keeps the players engaged because even if you're losing a set 5-1, you have to fight for that second game. That one game could be the difference between your team winning or losing the entire tournament.
The Teams and the Star Power
The 2024 roster was stacked. We aren't just talking about top 50 players; we're talking about the absolute elite of the sport.
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The Falcons (The Champions)
Andrey Rublev was the MVP here, no question. Supporting him were Elena Rybakina, the 2022 champion who struggled a bit in the final but was solid in the round-robin, plus Caroline Garcia and Denis Shapovalov.
The Hawks (The Runners-up)
Aryna Sabalenka led this group. She’s been the most dominant force in women’s tennis lately, and having the "prodigy" Mirra Andreeva alongside her made them the favorites. Jordan Thompson and India’s Sumit Nagal rounded out the squad.
The Kites
This was a fan-favorite team. You had Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas (who replaced some early entries), plus Jasmine Paolini and Simona Halep. Seeing Halep back on court was one of the big talking points for anyone following the sport closely. Nick Kyrgios was also in the mix, bringing his usual brand of "is he actually going to play or just talk?" energy.
The Eagles
The defending champions didn't have the same luck this year. Despite having Iga Świątek—who is basically a wall on these hard courts—they finished last in the standings. Paula Badosa and Alexander Shevchenko also played for the Eagles.
Real Talk: Does This Event Matter?
Some purists hate exhibition tennis. They think it devalues the "real" tour.
But if you ask the players? They seem to love it.
Nick Kyrgios actually said during the event that this is the "perfect return" for him because it's not as overwhelming as a Grand Slam, but still lets him test his level against the best.
And for the fans in Abu Dhabi, it’s a rare chance to see these stars in a relaxed environment. You see them sitting on the bench, joking around, coaching each other. You don't get that at Wimbledon.
Surprising Stats from the Week
It wasn't just the final that was close. The whole week was a mess of tie-breaks and overtime.
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- Falcons vs. Hawks (Day 1): The Falcons won 29-26, but only after a Super Shoot-out.
- Total Attendance: Over 20,000 people showed up at the Etihad Arena over the four days.
- Broadcasting: The matches were beamed to over 140 countries.
It's clear the organizers are trying to turn this into the "Laver Cup of the Middle East."
How to Use These Insights for Next Season
If you’re planning on following or even betting on the next edition, there are a few things you should keep in mind about how this tournament actually works.
First, ignore the rankings. In a one-set format, a player ranked 80th like Sumit Nagal can absolutely push a top 10 player to the limit. The pressure of a single set is different than a five-set grind.
Second, watch the doubles pairings. These teams are often put together for the first time ever. The teams that gel quickly on the bench—talking tactics between points—usually overperform.
Third, pay attention to the surface. The Etihad Arena plays fast. It favors the big servers and the aggressive baseliners like Rublev and Rybakina.
Actionable Takeaways for Tennis Fans
If you want to stay ahead of the curve for the 2025 season or just understand the 2024 results better:
- Analyze the "Game-Won" Percentage: Don't just look at who won the tie. Look at the game spread. A team that loses a tie 24-23 is often better than a team that wins a tie 20-10 but has huge variance in their singles performance.
- Follow the Off-Season Form: The World Tennis League 2024 proved that players who use this as a serious launchpad (like Rublev) often carry that momentum into the Australian Open in January.
- Check the Venue Dynamics: If you're planning to attend, the "Evening Pass" is usually the better value because you get the high-stakes final matches followed immediately by the music headliners.
The Falcons are the reigning kings of Abu Dhabi for now. But with the way the Hawks and Kites performed, the 2025 edition is already looking like a grudge match in the making.
To get the most out of your tennis coverage, you should look into how the "Overtime" rule specifically impacted the final game tallies, as it's the most misunderstood part of the WTL scoring system.