Dubai 2002 Dubai winner Fabrice Santoro hinted that this could well be his swansong season on the ATP Men's Tour.
"I love this game and I am so happy to fight against my opponents, who may be five or 10 or even 15 years younger than me," Santoro told media during the Lacoste press briefing held at the Majlis yesterday.
"It is such a huge pleasure to be just there doing what you are doing and feeling happy about it," added the 35-year-old Frenchman.
Vast experience of being on the tour does have its flip side. "Sometimes it does get tough, but as long as I am positive I don't think there is anything that can stop me from being competitive," Santoro remarked.
He is the oldest player who has been a regular to Dubai since the event started in 1993 - the year he ended as the runner-up. Finally, he won the singles here in 2002.
He has been so faithful to the Dubai tournament that he has even missed out on the French Open once [due to an injury]. "But I have come to Dubai every single year since 1993," he said.
He admitted that with age he was finding it difficult to keep up with the physical demands of the sport.
"The younger players can put in five and six hours of practice every day, but a player my age would find it tough to train one-and-a-half hours twice a day," Santoro said.
"At my age, everything can go down so quickly and I really don't have any idea if I will be back here for 2009.
"I have to work hard and I can promise you that I can trouble a few top players."
