ATP Dubai: Preview and Predictions

Many top players, including Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, return to the court for the first time since the Australian Open at the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship. Federer has owned this tournament, taking the trophy a record six times, including last year. Djokovic has four Dubai titles of his own. The top two seeds have dominated this tournament, winning 10 of the last 12 years.

Djokovic and Federer will be joined by a very strong field as players get in their last preparations before the two Masters Series events at Indian Wells and Miami.

For the full draw in Dubai, click here.

Predictions

No.1 seed Novak Djokovic’s Quarter

Djokovic hasn’t been on court since winning the first Grand Slam of the year, but he knows what he’s doing and peaks for the events that he does decide to play. Djokovic begins with the Canadian Vasek Pospisil. Pospisil is an up-and-coming talent and should put up a good showing, but in the end he will be no match for the Serb.

The top two seeds have dominated this tournament, winning 10 of the last 12 years.

The only other player that could make noise in this section is No.6 seed Feliciano Lopez. Lopez is a throwback player who utilizes well his big lefty serve and net game. On the fast courts of Dubai, Lopez’s serve and volley game should be effective and will give Djokovic a run for his money in the quarterfinal.

Prediction: Djokovic

No.4 seed Tomas Berdych’s Quarter

Berdych has had a great start to 2015, sporting a 13-3 record. He has had success in Dubai, losing in the final the past two years. Berdych’s section is the easiest of the four quarters. He starts with Frenchmen Jeremy Chardy. Chardy is a good player, but won’t give Berdych trouble. Berdych would likely have No.5 seed Ernests Gulbis or Sergiy Stakhovsky in the quarterfinal. Gulbis has had a rough start to 2015. Stakhovsky beat Wawrinka last week and could easily pull the upset over Gulbis, but defeating Berdych on top of that is too much to ask.

Prediction: Berdych

No.3 seed Andy Murray’s Quarter

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Murray will have a rotten taste in his mouth from losing early in Rotterdam two weeks ago. His draw is not too scary. He starts with Gilles Muller who is a big lefty and certainly capable of an upset. The last loss should keep Murray focused though. Four tough players in Malek Jaziri, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Marcos Baghdatis, and No.8 seed David Goffin are all in Murray section, but they will beat each other and Murray would only face one of them in the quarterfinal.

Prediction: Murray

No.2 seed Roger Federer’s Quarter

Federer’s domination in Dubai is well-known. Coming off a long rest, he should be rested and ready to defend his title. The draw did not do him any favors and he is in what is by far the toughest quarter. All eight players in this bottom quarter have spent time in the top 25.

All eight players in this bottom quarter have spent time in the top 25.

Federer starts with Russian Mikhail Youzhny. Youzhny is probably past his giant killing years. Federer will face the winner of a Spanish matchup between Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and Fernando Verdasco. That match is anyone’s guess. On the other side, No.7 Roberto Bautista Agut draws young Austrian Dominic Thiem. Bautista Agut has been playing too well on hard courts for the youngster to pull the upset. Lastly, veterans Richard Gaquet and Andreas Seppi square off. Gasquet should be able to move on, but either way the winner there has the experience to go deep.

While he has seen plenty of success in Dubai, this draw is too much for Federer to sweep through at this point in his career. Any of the eight could actually come out of this section

Prediction: Gasquet

Semifinal Predicitons: Berdych over Djokovic, Murray over Gasquet

Final Prediction: Berdych over Murray

Next: Will Cilic Be a One Slam Wonder?

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