Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships – Dubai Tennis Update

Written by: Staff on 29th February 2012

Singles – First Round: (2) R Federer def. M Llodra 6-0 7-6(8-6)

Roger Federer looked bad in Davis Cup, but since then, he has been just fine. He leaves Michael Llodra no better than #40.

Singles – First Round: (3) A Murray def. M Berrer (Q) 6-3 4-6 6-4

It’s going to be hard for Andy Murray to catch Roger Federer if he keeps playing like this. Of course, he has been off for quite a while now; he probably just needed to get his match feel back.

Singles – First Round: (4) J Tsonga def. M Baghdatis 7-6(7-2) 6-4

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga stays ahead of David Ferrer in the contest for #5, but Marcos Baghdatis will remain stuck below #45.

Singles – First Round: (5) T Berdych def. B Becker 6-2 6-2

Benjamin Becker took a big rankings leap last week — but won’t be climbing this week. Of course, neither will Tomas Berdych; he can’t add enough points to move above #7.

Singles – First Round: (7) J Tipsarevic def. I Kunitsyn 6-2 6-2

Janko Tipsarevic has a faint chance to reach #8 here, but first he has to get to the stage where the points count. He isn’t there yet.

Singles – First Round: (8) J del Potro def. A Dolgopolov 6-3 7-6(7-5)

Juan Martin del Potro extends his winning streak, but still needs more to climb in the rankings. We would guess that this will knock Alexandr Dolgopolov out of the Top Twenty.

Singles – First Round: M Youzhny def. R Gasquet 6-3, retired (illness)

Richard Gasquet blows his chance to return to the Top Fifteen.

Singles – First Round: F Lopez def. N Mahut 6-4 6-4

With Gasquet out, Lopez’s #15 ranking looks pretty safe although not yet guaranteed.

Singles – First Round: F Cipolla def. I Ljubicic 6-2 7-5

Ivan Ljubicic remains an incredible mess. If he keeps playing like this, he won’t get direct entry here next year.

Singles – First Round: S Stakhovsky def. O Awadhy (WC) 6-1 6-2

In effect, the Middle Eastern events have a lottery each year for who gets a free pass into the second round. This year, Sergiy Stakhovsky won it.

Singles – First Round: M Chiudinelli (Q) def. N Davydenko 6-4 5-7 6-4

Once again Nikolay Davydenko seems stalled. This will leave him still below #40.

Doubles – First Round: Knowle/Peya def. Ghareeb/Maqdas (WC) 6-4 6-1

Singles – First Round: Erlich/A Ram def. Lipsky/R Ram 6-3 7-5