Stars return for Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

After celebrating the 20th anniversary of in fine style last year, the event will again feature almost every top player in the world, as they battle it out for the coveted Dubai title.

Following a thrilling win in the final last year, five time champion Roger Federer will be back to delight the crowds as he takes on world number 1 Novak Djokovic in the men's tournament, while in the women's event defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska will be up against World number 1 Victoria Azarenka, and perennial favourite Serena Williams.

Staged at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Garhoud, the tournament will run from 18 February to 2 March with the action commencing with the $2m WTA event, followed on 25 February by the $2m ATP tournament.

Commenting on this year's event, Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free, the tournament owners and organizers, said, "We are delighted to be welcoming the world's best players back to Dubai. We are looking forward to some thrilling matches, with so many great players here the fans will be able to see world class tennis on every day of the tournament."

"With the men's and women's World Number One players here, along with the current holders of five Grand Slam crowns and both defending champions from last year, Dubai tennis fans are set for a sporting treat second to none," he added.

The women's event has attracted 9 of the top ten players, Azarenka, Radwanska and Williams being joined by Angelique Kerber, Sara Errani, Li Na, Petra Kvtiova, Sam Stosur and 2011 champion Caroline Wozniacki. Between them this group of players collected a remarkable 27 WTA titles last year, guaranteeing tough competition from the first round.

Azarenka maintained her position at the top of the rankings for the second year in a row, and Radwanska moved from 8th to 4th and is poised to move into the top three this year.

Serena Williams proved she still has what it takes, winning Wimbledon, the US Open, the Olympic Gold medal and the WTA Championship in a string of impressive victories and firmly re-establishing herself at the top of women's tennis. She has begun 2013 in the same way, winning the Brisbane International convincingly and establishing herself a real contender to put her name on the Dubai honour roll for the first time.

The men's draw will be finalised in the coming week, but organizers are expecting a stellar line up of six of the top ten players with Tomas Berdych and Janko Tipsarevic, and big hitters Juan Martin Del Potro and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga lining up against Federer and Djokovic.

The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is held under the patronage of H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Tickets for the event will go on sale on 14 January from the Box Office at the Dubai Tennis Stadium , Garhoud which opens from 9am to 9pm daily.