Dubai Duty Free Championships, UAE, ATP 500

[tented]

DATE: Feb 25 to Mar 2, 2019
SURFACE: Hard
PRIZE MONEY: $2,736,845
FIELD SIZE: 32
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Roberto Bautista Agut

Seeds:

1 Kei Nishikori
2 Roger Federer
3 Marin Cilic
4 Karen Khachanov
5 Stefanos Tsitsipas
6 Borna Coric
7 Milos Raonic
8 Daniil Medvedev



The Tournament:

The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the UAE sporting calendar and one of the most popular tournament stops for the ATP World Tour and the WTA Tour. Owned and organized by Dubai Duty Free and held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. This is the 27th year of the ATP tournament.

The tournament has traditionally attracted great names in tennis over the past two decades including Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, Goran Ivanisevic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray to name just a few.

It has won the ATP 500 Tournament of the Year eleven times since 2003. This award is voted on by the ATP players.

It continues to promote Dubai as a sporting destination of choice worldwide, and attracts fans from around the world. The event also has a massive global audience with coverage across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia, and the Americas.

About Dubai

Dubai is a city in the United Arab Emirates known for luxury shopping, ultramodern architecture and a lively nightlife scene. Burj Khalifa, an 830m-tall tower, dominates the skyscraper-filled skyline.

At its foot lies Dubai Fountain, with jets and lights choreographed to music. On man-made islands just offshore is Atlantis, the Palm, a resort with water and marine-animal parks.

Tourism Guide:

 

[tented]

 

[herios]

Good field here.

 

[Moxie]

Roger back in action. I was doing the draw challenge and I noticed no "byes" in Dubai. Huh. Anyone ever notice that before, or know why that is?

 

[tented]

Roger back in action. I was doing the draw challenge and I noticed no "byes" in Dubai. Huh. Anyone ever notice that before, or know why that is?

From the ATP Rulebook:

7.18 Byes - Assignment and Placement
A. Singles Main Draw
1) If there is a 32 main draw, no byes shall be awarded unless there are an insufficient
number of direct acceptances.
2) If there is a 28 main draw, the top four (4) seeds shall be awarded a bye.
3) If there is a 48 or 96 main draw, each seed shall be awarded a bye.
4) If there is a 56 main draw, the top eight (8) seeds shall be awarded a bye.
5) Any player who received a “bye” and loses in the second round shall receive second round loser’s prize money but only first round loser’s points for the ATP Rankings, if applicable.

 

[herios]

Roger back in action. I was doing the draw challenge and I noticed no "byes" in Dubai. Huh. Anyone ever notice that before, or know why that is?

The draw is posted here above and I see no byes?

 

[Fiero425]

The draw is posted here above and I see no byes?

Pretty tough draw! There's no guarantee Roger will even make the SF! This is a fast court and he can't afford to start slow! :whistle:

 

[atttomole]

Roger starts against Kohlschreiber.

 

[tented]

Roger starts against Kohlschreiber.

Head-to-head: 13-0. Are you concerned?

 

[atttomole]

Head-to-head: 13-0. Are you concerned?

I am not concerned, but Roger has been patchy recently. He could lose, but I expect him to win this match.

 

[tented]

I am not concerned, but Roger has been patchy recently. He could lose, but I expect him to win this match.

If nothing else, Roger is in PK’s head, so the belief must be nonexistent.

 

[atttomole]

If nothing else, Roger is in PK’s head, so the belief must be nonexistent.

Yes, he is in his head, and more significantly, Riger is a better player.

 

[tented]

Yes, he is in his head, and more significantly, Riger is a better player.

Should they meet, Raonic will be Roger’s first big test.

 

[atttomole]

Should they meet, Raonic will be Roger’s first big test.

Raonic is a threat on a fast surface. If they meet, I hope Roger will be ready.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

Roger back in action. I was doing the draw challenge and I noticed no "byes" in Dubai. Huh. Anyone ever notice that before, or know why that is?

Dubai is 500 level tourney. At such level, there should be at least 32 main entrants so that the winner has to win at least 5 matches. Why would you expect any byes (allowing the bye awardee to win in 4 matches) in such case? That would not make sense. Unless Dubai used to be 250 level (in such case 28 entrants & 4 byes) and you are referring to these times.

 

[El Dude]

1 Kei Nishikori
2 Roger Federer

 

[Andy22]

Federer not in the best form but he still wins this event if federer gets passed M.raonic he's been keeping he's fans waiting long time for title 100th.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Fed's draw is quite tough. Almost all opponents are tricky ones.

 

[isabelle]

great field, hope we'll see some decent piece of tennis

 

[atttomole]

A very big man accompanying Kohlschreiber to the court.