Andy Murray Headlines Dubai
By Anton Lagani, Lawn Tennis Analyst, Posted: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 6:31pm PST USA
Dubai--(lawntennismag.com) Earlier this week in Dubai after checking into the world's only seven star hotel, the Burj Al Arab, where suites can cost more than $12,000 a night, Andy Murray of Britain got down to business.
The $2.2 million Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships suffered a major blow before the start of the men's event as five of the seven top players scheduled to compete withdrew including the world number one Rafael Nadal of Spain and the world number two Roger Federer of Switzerland.
The defending champion Andy Roddick of the USA also pulled out. Left in the draw are the world number three Novak Djokovic of Serbia and the world number four, Andy Murray of Britain.
“The draw is definitely a bit different from last year, but we were not expecting it,” Murray said.
“They (the organizers) obviously had a great field lined up and some of the guys got injured. But it is certainly
nice that I don’t have to play a first round against Federer.”
Andy Murray of Britain
Andy Murray, who holds a 15-1 ATP Tour win loss record, took tournament wins already this year at Doha and Rotterdam.
In 2008 Murray defeated Federer in the first round at Dubai before losing to Federer in the US Open final.
Murray has reached this year's quarterfinals after defeating Arnaud Clement of France 6-2, 6-3. In Thursday's quarterfinals, Murray takes on Richard Gasquet, also of France.
Murray, who holds a 15-1 ATP Tour win loss record, took tournament wins already this year at Doha and Rotterdam. However Murray lost in the fourth round of last month's Australian Open to Fernando Verdasco 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 3-6, 4-6 after being picked by many to win the singles title.
Since turning professional in 2005, Murray has won ten career ATP Tour singles titles and reached the quarterfinals last year at Wimbledon.
