Dubai: Australian Open champions Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova are ready to follow up their Melbourne Grand Slam triumph by adding the 2008 Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships title to their impressive list of achievements.
Djokovic has twice beaten Roger Federer, including a straight-set victory in the semifinals of the Australian Open, and has high hopes that he can topple the reigning Dubai champion again when they clash at the Dubai Tennis Stadium.
“I think Dubai is one of the best ATP events,'' said Djokovic. “I had an amazing experience last year. I had a lot of support there, and the people are treating the players with a lot of respect.
“They try to make you very comfortable so you feel like you're at home, and I'm really looking forward to getting there.''
Sharapova has won the Australian and US Opens, as well as Wimbledon, but her bid to win the Dubai title two years ago was derailed by a rare rainfall that meant she had to play two matches in one day. Now she's looking forward to trying again.
“I really love the event,'' said Sharapova. “They do an amazing job and I really love going to Dubai.''
Star-studded line-up
Both players face the toughest possible opposition, with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Andy Murray and Nikolay Davydenko among those standing in the way of Djokovic.
Justine Henin, Ana Ivanovic, Serena Williams, Jelena Jankovic and Svetlana Kuznetsova are some of the top names bidding for the title against Sharapova.
“The Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships has always attracted the very best players in the world, and we are especially pleased to welcome the Australian Open winners,'' said Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of tournament owners and organisers Dubai Duty Free.
“We are also proud to have the top four men in the world playing in Dubai, as well as nine of the top ten women.''
Play at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, which is held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, begins on February 25 with the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour tournament, and is followed by the ATP event from March 3 to 8.
Ticket packages
Barclays Bank has announced a series of promotional campaigns that will enable new and existing customers residing in the UAE to receive complimentary tickets for the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships.
New customers applying for a Priority or Prestige Barclaycard between January 21 and February 21 will get a chance to win a number of ticket packages for the Tier II Sony Ericsson WTA Tour and the ATP International Series Gold tournament matches.
By using their Barclaycard three times over the same period, existing Barclaycard holders also will be eligible to win ticket packages to the event.
