There is no doubt. For the second year in a row, the Dubai ATP 500 beat the Acapulco Open. Two of the best 500 category events on the circuit come together year after year on the calendar, and in this 2021 it is clear that the event that takes place in the United Arab Emirates got the best part.
At first, the Dubai tournament confirmed four members of the ‘top-ten’, waiting for Novak Djokovic to decide to defend the crown that he won in the previous edition. The most attractive player in the ATP remains the Swiss Roger Federer, who will return to one of his favorite stops.
He will be accompanied by Austrian Dominic Thiem (3), Russian Andrey Rublev (8) and Italian Matteo Berrettini (10). On the other hand, the Mexican contest was able to confirm as its main figure the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, number six in the world, in addition to the German Alexander Zverev (7) and the Argentine Diego Schwartzman (9).
The situation would improve considerably if Rafael Nadal decides at the last minute to defend the title he won in 2020. Among the second-line players, Dubai will have the first out of the top-ten such as Frenchman Gael Monfils, the Canadian Denis Shapovalov and the Spanish Roberto Bautista Agut, as well as a multiple Grand Slams winner such as the Swiss Stan Wawrinka or the always charismatic Japanese player Kei Nishikori.
As if that were not enough, the main card of tennis players under 20 years old, the Italian Jannik Sinner, opted for Dubai. The Canadians Milos Raonic and Félix Auger-Aliassime will go to Mexico among their second-line players, as well as the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov and the Italian Fabio Fognini.
Another of the hard blows that the Dubai ATP dealt was the confirmation of the controversial, but very attractive Australian player Nick Kyrgios, who had been playing continuously in Acapulco during previous editions, including winning the title in 2019.
Dubai closed its main draw with all its players within the ‘top-50’, just the goal that is set year after year in Grupo Mextenis. It should be remembered that one of the determining factors for the best players in the world to have opted for contesting the ATP 500 of the Arab Emirates, goes through the juicy economic bag that they will distribute in their next edition.
The winner from Dubai will win a total of $ 149,490, while the winner from Acapulco will get $ 88,940. Which of the two tournaments do you find the most attractive for its next edition?
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