UAE. World number one Novak Djokovic heads a strong line-up for the men’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, which takes place for the 30th year in Dubai this month (21-26 February).
Djokovic, the five-time Dubai champion and world number one, is playing his first tournament since his visa to enter Australia was revoked by the country’s government as he arrived to play in the Australian Open last month, a story that made worldwide headlines.
Djokovic will be joined in Dubai by a further eight members of the world’s top 20. These include Dubai 2021 champion Aslan Karatsev, 2021 semi-finalists Andrey Rublev and Denis Shapovalov and former champion Roberto Bautista Agut.
“We are thrilled to welcome so many top players to our 30th year celebrations of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships,” said Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free. “We are delighted to see Novak back in Dubai for the 12th time when he will be seeking his sixth title and we wish him the best of luck.”
Karatsev has continued to impress since he won his first ATP title in Dubai last year. He went on to defeat Djokovic to reach the final in Belgrade. Later in 2021 he earned a second career title with victory over Marin Cilic in Moscow, and he began the 2022 season by beating Andy Murray in the Sydney final.
Rublev and Shapovalov will be other contenders alongside world number nine Felix Auger-Aliassime, Jannik Sinner and Gael Monfils. Auger-Aliassime will be making his Dubai debut after beginning 2022 by entering the world’s top ten for the first time.
Tournament Director Salah Tahlak said: “We can once more look forward to two weeks of fantastic tennis as we not only enjoy the 30th year celebrations of the ATP Tour event, but an incredible line-up of talent in the preceding WTA 500 tournament that features nine of the world’s top ten and 17 of the top 20 women players, including no less than five previous Dubai winners all returning to one of their favourite tournaments.”
The men’s ATP Tour 500 tournament on 21-16 February follows the women’s event (now in its 22nd year) which has been taking place over the past week , concluding on 19 February.
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free and 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.
