ABU DHABI // Novak Djokovic wants to create "a new tennis world" where the load on players will be better managed and organised than it has been so far.
Djokovic took over as world No 1 this year, his most successful on the ATP tour. He won three grand slams as well as 10 tour titles.
But a hectic schedule saw him pick up a back injury as the season drew to a close, resulting in a dip in form, most notably at the ATP World Tour Finals in London.
The issue of scheduling came to a head during the US Open – and the build-up to it – when a number of players withdrew due to injuries.
During the tournament, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick and Andy Murray raised concerns about the packed schedule and the top players have since met to discuss ways around the problem.
"Scheduling is an issue and all the players have publicly complained about the schedule," said Djokovic, currently in Abu Dhabi to rest and then prepare for the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, which starts on December 29.
"We're trying to find the best possible way with the present leadership and we have had lots of meetings and discussions," Djokovic said. "We're all trying to make a new tennis world, better for the players, fans and tournaments."
Djokovic did not say whether he would adjust his schedule for 2012 or play fewer tournaments.
Another complication this year is the Olympic Games in London in the summer. Djokovic is keen to take part in what he called "the most prestigious and historic sporting event". He won a bronze medal in Beijing in 2008.
But the Olympic tennis event begins on July 28 next year, less than three weeks after Wimbledon. The US Open begins just more than two weeks after the Olympics.
"Every sportsman in the world is excited to be part of the Olympic Games," he said.
"I had this honour in Beijing, where I won a medal, and it was an unforgettable experience. That's why I'm really looking forward to London. But it is going to mess up our schedules a little bit because everything's going to become very close, and there's not going to be much difference between majors and the Olympics. But it's the same for everybody and you just have to get used to that."
First up, however, will be the Mubadala tournament, in which six of the world's top 10 players, including Nadal and Federer, will be taking part. This will be Djokovic's first appearance at the tournament which marks the start of the season.
"I'm looking forward to it and I am very pleased to be here. It's the start of a new season and probably the strongest field for my debut. I heard from other players who said they've been coming here many years because they feel that this is the strongest competition they can have at the start of the season. You have six of the top players and it feels like a grand slam already."
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
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Political flags or banners
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
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