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TOUGH TASK: Gael Monfils

FRENCHMAN GAEL Monfils faces the stiffest possible test at the outset of the new tennis season which begins on Thursday. Monfils will face the might world no.1 Novak Djokovic.

The pair meet in the first round of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi, technically an exhibition event but one which is likely to prove competitive with the Australian Open just over two weeks away.

Good judges are of the opinion that Djokovic, the outstanding player of 2011, is set to be an all-time great such has been his recent dominance.

Monfils said of his upcoming task: "Playing against Novak is a great first match of the season. "It's great to play a heavy match against the world number one and I will be practising new things I have been working on. My aim for this tournament is to be aggressive and try out some new shots."

Meanwhile Briton Heather Watson has been ruled out of her first tournament of the season in New Zealand with a sprained ankle.

The British number three was due to start the new WTA campaign in the ASB Classic qualifying rounds in Auckland.
Watson, 19, wrote on her Facebook page: "I will not be playing in Auckland because I sprained my ankle badly.