21. 02. 2009. · Novak Djokovic is first-seeded player in Dubai. The tournament will be played from February 23-28, the prize money is 2,233,000 $.
After Nadal and Federer withdrew due to injury, the best Serbian player will have a chance to win new points.
Djokovic’s first round opponent will be the world number 125, Flavio Cipolla (Italy), and in round 2 he could meet Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) or Jan Hernych (CZE).
His possible rivals in the later stages of the tournament are:
Quarterfinals: Marin Cilic (CRO,5), Janko Tipsarevic (SRB), Julien Benneteau (FRA)
Semifinals: Gilles Simon (FRA,3), Ivo Karlovic (CRO,7).
Andy Murray (GBR,2), David Ferrer (ESP,4), Marat Safin (RUS,8,WC), Igor Andreev (RUS), Viktor Troicki (SRB), Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)… are in the other half of the draw.
Last year Novak reached the semifinals in Dubai. Andy Roddick beat him in straight sets.
The American is the defending champion. He won the trophy defeating Spaniard Feliciano Lopez in the finals.
The winner of this year’s Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships will earn 383,000 $ and 500 ATP points.
