Roger Federer’s presence in Dubai, where he trains often and where he has won the ATP tournament eight times, first international gold, then the masters 500, between 2003 and 2019, was confirmed by the list of entry published for the most famous tournament in the United Arab Emirates.
The Swiss champion, after Doha, therefore adds this step in the Middle East to continue his return phases on the field more than a year after his last official match (semi-final of the 2020 Australian Open against Novak Djokovic) .
The list of participants is however extremely qualified: there is also the Austrian Dominic Thiem, with a surprising choice as to his destinations, since he played and lost only once, in 2015 against the Spaniard. Roberto Bautista Agut.
Third participation, on the contrary, for the Russian Andrey Rublev, who rose to the quarter-finals last year, and second for Matteo Berrettini, who in 2019 was beaten by the American Denis Kudla.
On the Italian side, Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Sonego are also making their debuts in the United Arab Emirates. An ambitious and substantially double program for the two Italian flag-bearers, before flying to Miami for what is in fact the first Masters 1000 of the year due to the displacement of Indian Wells (for which there is no has no official news yet).
On the international scene, we will also remember the names of Canadian Denis Shapovalov, Swiss Stan Wawrinka (with whom Sinner will be a doubles partner in Rotterdam), Australian Nick Kyrgios and French Richard Gasquet.
In a recent interview, a jovial Martina Navratilova heard the news and reacted with a little humor. The 18-time Grand Slam Women’s Champion said: “I think he just wants to stay at Burj Al Arab again, but that’s amazing news!”
Navratilova on the return of Roger Federer.
“It’s great to see Roger Federer’s return, it’s time for him after almost a year without games.
So I’m happy that he’s in good health and playing again “- said Martina Navratilova. Having Roger back to an ATP 250 will allow him not to have to put too much pressure on himself to advance further. in the ordeal.
Prior to that, headlines had claimed Roger Federer was fit enough to return for the 2021 Australian Open but the Swiss decided not to participate for family reasons.
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