By Chris Oddo | Saturday, February 22, 2014
Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are slated to meet in the semifinals of next week's Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Photo Source: AFP
Top-seeded Novak Djokovic and fourth-seeded Roger Federer have been drawn into the same half of next week's Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
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Djokovic and Federer, who have won the event in nine of the last 11 years, met two times last season, with Djokovic taking both matches in deciding sets. Djokovic currently owns a 16-15 edge over Federer in their rivalry, including the last three matches and their last battle in Dubai, a 6-3, 6-3 triumph in the 2011 final.
Federer owns the edge in overall Dubai titles, as the Swiss Maestro has won the event five times (2003-2005, 2007, 2012) against four for the Serb (2009-2011, 2013).
Djokovic, who defeated Tomas Berdych in last year's final, will open with Denis Istomin in round one, and could face Mikhail Youzhny in the quarterfinals.
Federer will open with Benjamin Becker in round one and could face Dmitry Tursunov in the quarterfinals.
Second-seeded Juan Martin del Potro, third-seeded Tomas Berdych and fifth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga have all been bundled into the bottom half of the draw.
See the full Dubai Draw here