After four years of absence, Nole returns to Dubai.
Four-time former champion and world no.1 returns to action next week in Dubai where he won the ATP 500 tournament in 2009-11 and 2013. The event takes place at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre (February 24-29).
Novak is a top seed. He will open his 2020 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships campaign against world no.259, Malek Jaziri from Tunisia (WC, 1-0 H2H).
The Australian Open titlist could meet either Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) or Mohamed Safwat (EGY) in the second round.
His possible rivals in the later stages of the tournament are:
Quarter-finals: Karen Khachanov (RUS, 7)
Semi-finals: Gael Monfils (FRA, 3), Benoit Paire (FRA, 8), Marin Cilic (CRO)
Finals: Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE, 2), Fabio Fognini (ITA, 4), Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP, 5), Andrey Rublev (RUS, 6)
Novak is making his 11th appearance (36-6 record), aiming for his fifth crown.
The 32-year-old Serbian star hadn’t played the tournament since 2016 when he reached the quarter-finals.
Novak will team up with Marin Cilic in the doubles competition. They will take on American/British top-seeded duo of Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury in opening round.
Photo: AP
