Four-time Champion Federer heads field for Men’s Open

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Sunday, February 21, 2010
Simon vs. Baghdatis the pick of the first round ties
Dubai, UAE, February 20th, 2010: The Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships has witnessed a spectacular week of top-class tennis action from the best women in the world, and now a host of superstars from the ATP World Tour are set to take over the Dubai Tennis Stadium.

Four-time former champion Roger Federer heads the field, fully fit after injury kept him from bidding for the title in 2009. And he is set to be challenged by defending champion Novak Djokovic, Australian Open runner-up Andy Murray and Barclays ATP World Finals winner Nikolay Davydenko.

Federer, the reigning French, Wimbledon and Australian Open champion, opens his campaign against Julien Benneteau of France, and in the quarter-finals could meet the talented Tommy Robredo, two-time Dubai finalist Feliciano Lopez or talented Croat Marin Cilic. If he gets past that hurdle he could clash with third seed Andy Murray, who produced one of the biggest upsets in the history of the tournament when he defeated the Swiss superstar in the opening round here two years ago.

Djokovic could face a tricky quarter-final in French wild card and number five seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who defeated him in the quarter-finals of the recent Australian Open. And if he can get past that barrier, he is likely to face Nikolay Davydenko, who was good enough to banish Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro on his way to winning the end of year Finals in London.

As well as one wild card given to Tsonga, another has gone to German Rainer Schuettler, who defeated Roger Federer in his first appearance here in 2002, and a third to Kuwait's talented Mohammed Ghareeb, who performed with credit against Federer in the second round in 2006.

"We are delighted to have so many of the world’s top players in Dubai once again, with six of the top 10 set to battle for one of the most sought-after titles in the game," said Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of tournament owners and organisers Dubai Duty Free.

"Roger Federer showed he was terrific form as he won the Australian Open last month, but he faces opposition that is second to none, with Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Nikolay Davydenko and Australian Open semi-finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga all capable of walking away with the trophy. And we should watch out for Marin Cilic, who had already won two titles this season."

Play at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, which is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, features the WTA final between Venus Williams and Victoria Azarenka on February 20th, and continues with the ATP tournament from February 22nd.
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