Venus, Djokovic up for challenge in Dubai

Dubai: Reigning champions Venus Williams and Novak Djokovic are looking forward to the challenge they will face when they return to Dubai this month to defend their titles at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships.

The region's leading tennis event not only offers an incredible $4 million in prize money but almost every top player in the world, so both know they will have to once again overcome the best there is if they are to repeat their 2009 successes.

Good season

Both players' confidence levels have been boosted by a great start to the season, with both blazing their way to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and Djokovic rising to number two on the increasingly-tight ATP World Tour rankings.

These successes build upon the terrific season they both enjoyed last year, with Williams winning in Acapulco the week after her triumph in Dubai, reaching the semifinals in Miami and Rome, and the finals of Wimbledon, Stanford and the Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha.

During the season she overcame opponents including Elena Dementieva and sister Serena to reach the Dubai final, Dinara Safina at Wimbledon, Dementieva again in Stanford, and Svetlana Kuznetsova and Jelena Jankovic in Doha.

"I think they do an excellent job with the tournament," said Williams. "They really do care about running a great event and they care about the players. There is a difference here in Dubai. You enjoy the tournament and that makes you want to come back", she added.

"Last year it [Dubai] was the first title of the year for me and it was very special because I had a lot of support," said Djokovic.

"Every time I come back I just feel like I'm playing at home. A lot of people from my country live and work in Dubai and come to the tennis, and it really feels great if you have people behind you.

"It is a real privilege to have Djokovic and Williams returning to the Dubai Tennis Stadium to defend their titles," said Salah Tahlak, Tournament Director.