Novak Djokovic comment made by Dubai chief as tennis event returns to full capacity
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Novak Djokovic is set to be welcomed to the United Arab Emirates with open arms after the tournament director of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Salah Tahlak admitted it was “great to have him back”. The superstar is yet to play a competitive match this year after being deported from Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open.
Djokovic has won the Dubai title five times in his career and has only ever lost six of the 47 matches he has played at the tournament.
And Tahlak has lauded the 34-year-old ahead of the competition, which gets underway a week on Monday.
“I think it’s great to have him back because he is the number one player in the world,” Tahlak said, while expressing his gratitude to the vice-president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
“He has been our former champion and, for this city and this tournament, it’s absolutely great to have him back.
“I think we have to always be positive. Dubai is a positive city. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed is always positive.”
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The tournament is set to return to full capacity this year, with the number of spectators allowed courtside no longer affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
And Tahlak admitted it was great to be hosting the tournament again.
“It’s a great feeling,” Tahlak added.
“We were so happy two days ago when we got an email from the Dubai Sports Council that we are back to 100 per cent instead of 80.
“The tickets are sold out, but we have a few tickets that we kept just in case. So now it’s amazing.”
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Only Roger Federer has won the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on more occasions than Djokovic after lifting the trophy seven times.
But with the Swiss ace appearing unlikely to play at the tournament this year after missing the Australian Open through injury, Djokovic will be confident of landing a sixth title.
The Serbian was in scintillating form in 2021 as he won the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon.
But he hasn’t won a tournament for three months after his withdrawal from this year’s edition of the Grand Slam in Melbourne.
Djokovic had been the overwhelming favourite to claim victory at the Australian Open last month as he looked to win a record 21st Grand Slam title.
But his arch-rival Rafael Nadal went on to taste glory Down Under and it was the Spaniard who moved ahead of his rivals at the top of the all-time men’s singles leaderboard.
Djokovic has dominated on the court in recent years, however, so the player will be hoping his appearance in Dubai can pave the way for more Grand Slam success this season.
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