Disappointment and doubles success in Dubai

Dubai: The top seed was also the defending champion back in the 1997 tournament, so surely this time the player at the top of the draw would take the title. Well, it almost happened, but not quite.

The top seed was Goran Ivanisevic, but although he advanced all the way to the final he was thwarted in his bid to retain the title by the number two seed, Thomas Muster. The result was a closely contested 7-5 7-6.

Possibly, Ivanisevic had a stroke of luck, as his quarter-final opponent should have been one of the biggest stars ever to play the game, Boris Becker. But the seventh seeded German was forced to default the eagerly anticipated clash because of a wrist injury. That non-match still ranks as probably the biggest disappointment in the tournament's history.

Ivanisevic, Muster and Becker were only some of the star names on show. Reigning Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek made his debut and reached the quarter-finals before losing to Jiri Novak, and Jim Courier was back and doing better than before, marching through to the semi-finals before bowing out to Muster in three sets. Pat Cash was back, and Tim Henman played for the first time but lost his opening match to the unheralded Martin Sinner.

Consolation

While Ivanisevic failed to win the singles again, he did earn the ‘consolation' of the doubles title with partner Sander Groen. It was a remarkable achievement as the pair were unseeded and were competing against a field that included the legendary Indian pair of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes.

The stadium was also drawing praise, and would go on to be voted ‘Best Venue' by players on the ATP Tour for three consecutive years.