Dubai Duty Free Men's Open

[SAFINNO1]

Article about this years Tournament.

Federer, Henin-Hardenne return to defend Dubai tennis titles

DUBAI — Dubai Duty Free’s announcement that World No 1 Roger Federer and former French and US Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne will both return to defend their respective Dubai Tennis Championships titles adds extra spice to what is shaping to be another mouthwatering tournament.


Wimbledon champion Federer is among the hottest properties on the tennis circuit, while Henin-Hardenne, who succumbed to a virus mid-way through the season but still managed to win Gold at the Olympics, will be looking for her third consecutive Dubai Women’s Open. Both Federer — who is also chasing his third straight Dubai title — and Henin-Hardenne will spearhead a top-class player line-up. In the Men’s Open, superstar Andre Agassi will make his first ever appearance in Dubai, [glow=red,2,300]while the big hitting Russian Marat Safin returns for his fifth tournament[/glow]

“We are delighted that some of the biggest names in World tennis are coming to Dubai for what will no doubt be another spectacular event,” said Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free.

“Dubai has earned a reputation as a leading sports city and the confirmation of these much sought-after players will only further underline its position as a truly great sporting destination.”<br>
The 23-year-old Federer, who has drawn comparisons to a young Agassi due to his flamboyance on court and trademark ponytail, followed his success at the Dubai Duty Free Men’s Open this year with the biggest trophy of them all at Wimbledon. With 11 titles this season including the Dubai Men’s Open, three Grand Slams, the Tennis Masters Cup and three ATP Masters Series events, it is no wonder Federer is being mentioned among the game’s greats.

And to cap off a remarkable year, Federer was named Swiss Sportsman of the Year for his performances in 2004. It completed a hat-trick of honors within the space of a week for Federer who was also named Overseas Sports Personality by the BBC and European Sportsman of the Year by the European Sports Journalists Association.

For the first time in its history, the two-week Dubai Tennis Championships will be launched by the Dubai Duty Free Men’s Open from February 21-27 with the Dubai Duty Free Women’s Open following from February 28 to March 5. Both tournaments will be held at the Dubai Tennis Stadium.

Although the 2005 Dubai Tennis Championships — which, for the men, will be in its 13th year — is expected to attract half of the world’s top 10 players as well as Agassi, Dubai Duty Free will freeze ticket prices at 2004 levels.

“The Dubai public has helped this event to grow into the success story it is today and we want to repay them by keeping ticket prices at an affordable level,” said McLoughlin.

“We confidently expect the appearance of these big name players to be a great boost not only for the tournament but also for sport in the Middle East.”<br>
The Dubai Tennis Championships is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free and takes place under the patronage of General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence.

[christina]

JeeJ somewhere to discuss it, why didn't i think of this.....now i can get excited here instead of on the AO thread
and vass.....i officially have permission to meet up with you now

[alysha]

ughh im so jealous...my cousins ball boying there

[Vassily]

Chris, will you ever forgive me if I don't go watch the men's final with you unless Marat will play there? I can't afford to see a final if Marat's not playing. I'm facing a choice: see all the men's tourney and only the final or [semifinal+quarters] of WTA, OR I can attend [all the men's matches minus the final] AND see the [all women's matches]...
Unless Marat is in the men's final, I'll always enjoy watching Anastasia Myskina, Svetlana Kuznetsova, some other russian play in the later rounds of WTA more...

[christina]

Vassily said:

Chris, will you ever forgive me if I don't go watch the men's final with you unless Marat will play there? I can't afford to see a final if Marat's not playing. I'm facing a choice: see all the men's tourney and only the final or [semifinal+quarters] of WTA, OR I can attend [all the men's matches minus the final] AND see the [all women's matches]...
Unless Marat is in the men's final, I'll always enjoy watching Anastasia Myskina, Svetlana Kuznetsova, some other russian play in the later rounds of WTA more...

of course i'll forgive you! i've still got my dad but of course if marats in it (HAHAHA doubtful) then i expect you to be there otherwise i will strangle you with your new necklace ;D

[Vassily]

christina said:

of course i'll forgive you! i've still got my dad but of course if marats in it (HAHAHA doubtful) then i expect you to be there otherwise i will strangle you with your new necklace ;D

I'm giving my neckless to Marat before the final. probably as soon as he arives because it's easier to slip something into his things during the pre-tournament days.

Btw. I would consider going to the final if Youzhny reaches it.

[christina]

Vassily said:

I'm giving my neckless to Marat before the final. probably as soon as he arives because it's easier to slip something into his things during the pre-tournament days.

Btw. I would consider going to the final if Youzhny reaches it.

LOL...wokeej, as long as your there friday otherwise i'll be stuck with my stepmum which would be awful, my dads decided he has to go back to AD for a shipping conference leaving me in dubai

[Marat=da best]

alysha said:

ughh im so jealous...my cousins ball boying there

really?! gosh``` :'(let's kidnap him, and...hehe

anyone knows the exact date?

[tall_one]

the Dubai tourney starts on Feb 21st so you've got 3 weeks till Marat plays again

[Teresa]

Latest Indesit ATP 2005 Race
;D


1st Safin, M. 200 ;D ;D

2nd Hewitt, L. 183

3rd Federer, R. 140

4th Roddick, A. 90

5th Davydenko, N. 73

6th Rochus, O. 69

7th Johansson, J. 68

8th Hrbaty, D. 53

9th Agassi, A. 50

9th Gonzalez

Sorry I could not get to copy properly!

Federer won this tourney last year.....hopefully Marat will this year ;D

[annie]

Yeah!!! Go Marat!! Get that Indesit Award like Roger got in the Masters Cup! Stay number one and don't let 'em catch you!! ;D

[SAFINNO1]

I guess you guys mat have forgotten no matter what marat is going to Shanghai at the end of the year.

[SAFINNO1]

Russian Entertainer Ready To Take to Dubai after AO sucess.

Dubai, UAE, January 26th, 2005: It was one of the biggest first round match-ups in tennis history. Roger Federer, World No. 1 and defending champion at the 2004 Dubai Tennis Championships, against former World No. 1 and the player he had just beaten in the final of the Australian Open, Marat Safin.

And the match lived up to expectations, as they battled through two tiebreaks before Federer emerged as the victor and a disappointed Safin headed for home.

After reaching the 2001 final on his Dubai tournament debut he returned two years later seeded number two and fell in the second round to Tommy Robredo. Then came his opening round defeat by Federer.

"Marat is a larger than life character and over the year's the Dubai crowds have supported him through his highs and lows on centre court," said Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, the owners and organizers of the tournament

"Marat is a larger than life character and over the year's the Dubai crowds have supported him through his highs and lows on centre court," said Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, the owners and organizers of the tournament. we are looking forward to welcoming them back to Dubai next month."

This year Safin, the man with the coy smile, will be hoping the Dubai draw will be a little kinder. But whatever fate is presented to him, Safin will give fans something to remember. He has spectators in mind, those who have paid their money and want to be entertained.

"Being on the court opens up the real character, what you have deep inside," he says. "I like to perform, and I understand because I am a person who also used to watch tennis. I know how people feel and I know what they want to see. First of all I'm performing for myself, but I am performing also for the people who have paid money.

"First of all you have to respect the spectators. You can do bad things, you can break rackets, shout, whatever you do, but you have to do it without hurting the spectator because he is the one giving you the job opportunity, being on the court and earning some money. If nobody watches there is no sponsor, and if there's no sponsor there is no job. So you have to give to the crowd, the spectators."

Safin missed much of the 2003 season because of injury, and being sidelined for months was difficult for him.

"There have been low points, a lot of them, but you have to go through them to appreciate the great achievements of your career. If you don't have low points you can't realise and appreciate the good parts of your job. I've had a great career. Hopefully I will have achieved some things that I would like to achieve and I'll look back and say yes, it was a great time and now it's time to move on. I'll try my best. If more Grand Slams come they will come. If they don't, it's no big deal."

And he has good advice for anyone, no matter what they do in life.

"Just give yourself the opportunity, give yourself the chance. You have to be happy with what you have achieved, and don't take any notice if somebody tells you that you should have achieved much more. You have achieved what you have achieved. Nobody can take that away and you have a clear conscience."

Safin will land in Dubai next month with Federer, the legendary Agassi and big-serving Greg Rusedski firmly in his sights when the Tennis Championships gets underway at the Dubai Tennis Centre on 21st February. Owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free, the Dubai Tennis Championships is held under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence, UAE.

[tall_one]

SAFINNO1 said:

I guess you guys may have forgotten no matter what marat is going to Shanghai at the end of the year.

not necessarily.

if Marat finishes outside the top 20 he does not go even though he did win a slam or if he finishes in the 9 to 20 range but one of the other guys that wins a slam finishes in the 9 to 20 range and is higher then Marat then he goes and Marat doesn't. (ie if Ferrero would win RG and finish 11 and Marat finished 12, the top 7 guys and Ferrero would go)

[SAFINNO1]

tall_one said:

not necessarily.

if Marat finishes outside the top 20 he does not go even though he did win a slam or if he finishes in the 9 to 20 range but one of the other guys that wins a slam finishes in the 9 to 20 range and is higher then Marat then he goes and Marat doesn't. (ie if Ferrero would win RG and finish 11 and Marat finished 12, the top 7 guys and Ferrero would go)

you a correct as it nearly happened last year with Gaston Gaudio, but can you really see Marat having that bad of a year (Injury permitting). Personally i think if you did'nt inculde the Grass court season in the Champions Race he would clearly finsh second.

I am sure he will not have a unknown period between feb-may like he did last year.