Top tennis names set to vie for $4m Dubai jackpot

All 10 out of the top 10 women’s players in the world will grace the court at the Dubai Tennis Championships from February 14, organisers have announced.

And at least seven of the top 10 men’s players will be in action for the ATP tournament at the same venue the following week.

The lineup including both men’s and women’s defending champions Novak Djokovic and Venus Williams, as well as four-time champion and world No. 1 Roger Federer.

Rafael Nadal, the world No. 2, has decided to give Dubai a miss, despite winning the Capitala tournament in Abu Dhabi last weekend.

Dubai is one of the most prestigious events on both the ATP and WTA Tour calendars, with a total prize money of $4 million up for grabs to the winners this year.

“To have all of the top 10 women and seven of the top 10 men confirmed for the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships 2010 is a remarkable and unprecedented achievement and indicates the importance of the tournament amongst the players themselves," said Colm McLoughlin, managing director of tournament owners and organisers Dubai Duty Free.

“This is made all the more special due to the fact we are celebrating a milestone year for the Championships – the 18th anniversary of the Men’s Open and 10th anniversary of the Women’s Open.

“The lineup for this year’s tournament speaks volumes and is a testament to just how far the Championships has come since we began it all back in 1993”, he added.

Grandstand tickets for the tournament go on sale on Sunday January 10 with prices from AED30 to AED200.

This year’s tournament will see Federer attempting to win his fifth Dubai title, after his last victory in 2007. After missing out last year due to injury, the player that many believe is the greatest of all time will be determined to add to his already impressive tally of 4 ATP titles in Dubai.

ATP World Tour Finals finalist Juan Martin Del Potro and winner Nikolay Davydenko will also both be looking for their maiden titles in Dubai. The popular 2008 Dubai champion Andy Roddick will again be returning, while Jo-Wilfried Tsonga makes up the seventh top 10 star that will be competing.

For the women’s lineup, the world’s top player Serena Williams will be heading the field, determined to match sister Venus’s success at becoming champion in Dubai last year.

Play at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships begins on Sunday, February 14 with the WTA Tour event and continues with the ATP tournament from Monday February 22.