The Dubai 500 will get underway on Monday with what may be considered a weaker field than previous years.
Nadal and Federer have pulled out and defending champion Andy Roddick is also set to miss the event, however 3 top ten players are set to compete for the title.
Below is a preview of the main contenders:
Novak Djokovic: ATP: no.3
Djokovic goes into the Dubai event with more to prove than many other players. After a mediocre showing at the Australian Open and losing to Tsonga in the semi finals at Marseille last week Djokovic will feel he needs to remind people why he is the world no. 3. As top seed in this event anything less than a semi final showing would be a major disappointment.
Prediction: Champion
Andrew Murray: ATP: no.4
The British no.1 comes into this event off the back of a victory over Nadal in Rotterdam and should feel confident after defeating Federer in Dubai last year. Murray is likely to be concentrating on closing the gap in the rankings with Djokovic over the coming weeks as and has fewer points to defend than the Serbian before the French Open.
Prediction: Runner Up
Giles Simon: ATP: no.8
The Frenchman has only won a solitary match in Dubai back in 2007 but has improved in every area over the past 2 years. The no.3 seed should do better than tow years ago although may find it a match to far against either Djokovic or Murray in the semis.
Prediction: Semi-final
Marat Safin: ATP: no.26
The mercurial Russian will return to Dubai after a 2 year absence this year as he continues his long farewell. Safin made the final back in 2001 the same year he was top of the rankings for seven weeks. While it is unlikely he will match his run from 2001 he is easily capable of winning matches in the U.A.E.
Prediction: Quarter-final
Other players to watch out for...
Marin Cilic: ATP: no.20
The big hitting Croatian was eliminated in the first round last year but could make a bigger impact this time around.
Richard Gasquet: ATP: no.27
The talented Frenchman has been in poor form of late but is too good a player not to begin climbing the rankings again shortly.
Mikhail Youzhny: ATP: no.62
A former world no.8 Youzhny has already reached the Quarters at Rotterdam this year and could reach the latter stages again in Dubai.
