Top players feel things will not be any easier

Dubai: According to them, there is tremendous depth in the field and the men's singles title could be anybody's next Saturday.

"Yes, we have had a few great contests before, but Roger's pullout is not going to make things any easier. I will still be taking one match at a time," said Scotsman Andy Murray, who lost the Australian Open final to the Swiss master only last month. Incidentally, Murray had tripped him in the first round the last time Federer played here in 2008.

"I can't really judge on this for I don't know the reasons behind his [Federer's] withdrawal. However, there are still players like Murray, Cilic and Davydenko who are anywhere between the top five and 10. I hope to make use of his absence at the highest possible level," said Novak Djokovic, world No.2 and now the event's top seed.

Croatia's Marin Cilic said he would try his best to make use of the situation. "I was actually looking forward to playing with him."