Title defenders back in fray for Dubai Duty Free Championships

Dubai: Defending champions Caroline Wozniacki and Novak Djokovic are set to return to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships next month, heading the best-ever field of players assembled for the premier tennis event of the Middle East. The tournament is scheduled from February 20-March 3 at the Dubai Tennis Stadium.

Wozniacki has held the number one ranking since returning to the top spot following her 2011 Dubai title victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova, going on to win further titles at Indian Wells, Charleston, Brussels, on home ground in Copenhagen and in New Haven where she claimed the trophy for the fourth consecutive year.

She also reached the final in Doha and Stuttgart and spent all but one week of the year as the number one ranked player in the world. In all, she won an impressive 63 matches and all the while charmed everyone with her sunshine smile.

Currently in the running for her first Grand Slam at the Australian Open, Wozniacki is keen to secure her first Slam and retain her number one position.

If she manages to take her first Australian title, she will have plenty more to smile about as she prepares to return to one of her favourite tournaments. She loves Dubai so much she even took a holiday here following the most successful season of her career.

"I really love Dubai as a city and the tournament is so well run. They take such good care of us and it just makes playing there a much better experience."

Challenge

Joining Wozniacki in Dubai is men's defending champion Novak Djokovic. The Serbian, currently fighting to retain his Australian Open title and number one position, is in line to make it four titles in a row as he was victorious in Dubai in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

It is a challenge he is looking forward to. "Dubai is always a great tournament," he said. "A lot of the players have the same opinion as me. We feel very comfortable in this tournament, the site is great, the weather is fantastic and the organisers make us feel really good". "I really look forward to going there," he added.

The best two players in the world will join a line-up that includes French Open winner Li Na, Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and US Open victor Samantha Stosur, as well as former world number ones Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic and recent Sydney International winner Victoria Azarenka.

Djokovic will also face a strong field that features Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Tomas Berdych and Mardy Fish.

"Both Caroline Wozniacki and Novak Djokovic produced stunning tennis last year and were deserving winners of their titles," Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of tournament owners and organisers Dubai Duty Free, said. "We are delighted to welcome back two such tremendous champions," he added.

Tickets are available from the Box Office at the Dubai Tennis Stadium, Garhoud (open from 9am to 9pm daily). For details about tickets, prices and tournaments, visit www.dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com or phone +971 4 358 9797.

Australian Open: Wozniacki forges ahead

Caroline Wozniacki saw off a late fightback from former world number one Jelena Jankovic to ease into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open with a 6-0, 7-5 victory yesterday.

"My confidence is high, my fitness is good, I feel like my play is improving," Wozniacki beamed in a courtside interview. "I thought I played a great set and a half and then she started playing very well and got me back on my toes for a bit. I'm so happy to be through and even though I know some of the crowd wanted a long match, I hope you'll still support me."

— Reuters