Novak Djokovic Is Proposing Dubai Be Upgraded In Importance

Written by: Staff on 4th March 2013

Novak Djokovic Is Proposing Dubai Be Upgraded In Importance

epa03607235 Novak Djokovic of Serbia kisses the trophy after winning the final match against Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic at Dubai Duty Free Tennis ATP Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 02 March 2013. EPA/ALI HAIDER |

Novak Djokovic is touting the Dubai tournament for possible Masters 1000 status after winning the title for the fourth time in five years. The world No. 1 is quick to list the benefits of the desert classic, which has been dominated over the last seasons by himself and part-time resident Roger Federer.

“There’s not much to say except the fact that it’s elected for last 10 years as the best tournament in the world in ‘500 series,” said the Serb. “You have always at least four, five players from top 10 coming here and always entertaining weeks of tennis with the women’s the week before and then men’s back-to-back, have over 100,000 people coming to watch.

“I don’t know a single player who has played here and has a negative feeling about the tournament. On the contrary, everybody wishes that this tournament is played for a bit longer time, also, like we have Indian Wells and Miami, and I think that this tournament deserves.”

While he would love to earn the extra ranking points were Dubai to somehow be upgraded, Djokovic is well aware that ATP calendar change can be glacial – so he has a plan.

“I believe that every few years it would be interesting idea to allow all the tournaments in the world to compete for 1000 events. Why not? I mean, you have to give opportunity to the cities around the world.

“Tennis is growing. Men’s tennis is really popular, getting more global and global people following it, especially Grand Slams. If ATP has control over 1000 events, why not play around with that, try to evolve, try to grow a little bit, because there has been a too much conservative path that tennis has been taking.

“If cities are going to have the big tournaments, then they have to earn it, they have to show that they’re really looking to accommodate players in the best possible way, to be player friendly, to be promoting it and doing strong marketing for that tournament.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: ATP tennis news, Dubai Open Tennis Tournament, Dubai tennis news, Novak Djokovic, Serbian tennis news, Sports