Roger Federer, the seven-time champion, may be missing from the 2016 ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, but the line-up remains packed with top-class talent. Jon Turner picks the five players he expects to cause an impact at the Aviation Club.
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Novak Djokovic (SRB) [1]
What is there more to say about the undisputed king of tennis? We can keep reeling off his achievements, his incomparable form of last season, and his unbeaten start to 2016, but you’ve heard it all before. The fact of the matter is, 11-time grand slam champion Djokovic is playing a different game to the rest of his peers, and frighteningly, he only seems to be getting better. A four-time winner in Dubai, and last year’s beaten finalist, world No 1 Djokovic will, as always, be the man to beat this week. Will his level drop enough for an inspired opponent to take advantage? At present it seems unlikely, but stranger things have happened. Or have they?
Stan Wawrinka (SUI) [2]
The one man to stop Djokovic from claiming a clean sweep of grand slam titles last season, Wawrinka’s throw-caution-to-the-wind brand of tennis has the ability to ruffle the Serbian’s feathers, as proven at the French Open. Built on a booming serve and that nuclear warhead of a backhand, the Swiss world No 4 has earned his place in the upper echelons of the men’s game. The Big Four has now become the Big Five. Making his first appearance in Dubai since 2008, two-time grand slam champion Wawrinka will be aiming for a more successful campaign than his first round defeat eight years ago, and the prospect of a Djokovic-Wawrinka final will have tennis fans salivating.
Tomas Berdych (CZE) [3]
For so long ‘the best of the rest’, Berdych has arguably been the biggest victim of the Big Four era, and his history in Dubai is a reflection of that status. Twice a finalist at the Aviation Club, the Czech world No 8 lost the 2014 final to Roger Federer, and to Djokovic the year prior. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Regardless, Berdych, with his monster game from the baseline, remains a major contender, and another march into the latter stages of Dubai will be the least he will expect from the tournament.
Nick Kyrgios (AUS)
Will Kyrgios win the title in Dubai next week? Probably not. Will he make an impact? Almost certainly. Blessed with enormous talent, the Australian world No 41 is being tipped as a future grand slam champion, but the unsavoury antics that have incurred numerous fines and a lingering suspension continue to hold the 20-year-old back. A focused and fired-up Kyrgios is capable of the sublime and is a match for any player on the tour. But a sulking, complaining Kyrgios could just as easily get dumped out in the first round. Either way, it should be entertaining.
Borna Coric (CRO)
Another potential future star, Coric heads to Dubai with fond memories from last year having reached the semi-finals before losing to Roger Federer. On his way to the last four, Coric produced the biggest win of his career when he dismantled Andy Murray in the quarter-finals, and the 19-year-old Croatian will be aiming to replicate that form this week. Coric, the world No 36, started the season impressively, reaching the Chennai Open final, but has since struggled for form, including a first round defeat at the Australian Open. Boasting a solid game from the baseline, the Dubai courts suit Coric, and unless he is handed a tough opening draw, will fancy his chances of a deep run.
