The WTA Dubai kicks off on Sunday, February 19, followed by the ATP 500 the following week. 18 of the top 20 players in the WTA ranking will participate, including world number 1 Iga Swiatek and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka.
The men’s tournament, for its part, will feature Novak Djokovic, fresh off his tenth win at Melbourne Park and the protagonist of a fantastic start to the season (the Serb also won the ATP 250 in Adelaide). Rafael Nadal should have been present as well, but was forced to resign due to the iliopsoas injury he sustained during the Australian Open.
Roger Federer, eight-time champion in Dubai, who retired in September last year, will obviously not be there. The Swiss did everything possible to take one last lap, but the state of his right knee forced him to resign at the age of 41.
In a long interview with the “Khaleej Times”, Colm McLoughlin -general director of Dubai Duty Free- thanked Federer for his contribution to the growth of the tournament. “Retirement day comes sooner or later for all athletes.
We are delighted that Roger Federer has had such a deep connection to our tournament. He has won eight times, has a home in Dubai and has personally contributed to the growth of the tournament,” McLoughlin explained. “Even though he no longer…
