Federer faces tough first round in Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

Sinead El Sibai, Roberto Bautista Agut, Marin Cilic, Salah Tahlak, Colm McLoughlin and Naser Yousef pose for a photo during the DDF Tennis Championships ATP draw.

Aiming to become only the second man in history to win 100 career titles, seven-time Dubai champion Roger Federer has a battle on hand to reach the magic figure as the Swiss genius will face the dangerous German Philipp Kohlschreiber in the first round.
Kohlschreiber, the 35-year-old German, was a Dubai semifinalist in 2014. This award-winning tournament always seems to bring the best of him as he also made back-to-back quarterfinals here in 2016 and 2017.
But Federer will draw inspiration from his amazing head-to-head record against the German, having won all of their 13 matches in the past. If Federer beats Kohlschreiber again, his next round opponent could be the veteran Spaniard Fernando Verdasco - a finalist in Dubai in 2017.
Meanwhile, top seed Kei Nishikori of Japan begins his campaign against Frenchman Benoit Paire. Nishikori, the 2014 US Open runner-up, could meet Greek sensation Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, third seed Marin Cilic, who is returning to Dubai after a gap of nine years, faces the dangerous Frenchman Gael Monfils in what is the pick of the first round battles in the 27th edition of the men's tournament in Dubai.
The 32-year-old Monfils has been in sensational form, reaching the Sofia semifinals before winning the Rotterdam tournament with a three-set win in the final over three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland.
Russian fourth seed Karen Khachanov, who beat world number one Novak Djokovic in the Paris Masters final last November, will lock horns with Nikoloz Basilashvili. Tsitsipas, the fifth seed, will take on Mathhew Ebden and Croatian Borna Coric, the sixth seed, plays Mikhail Kukushkin. The big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic will start his campaign against Jan-Lennard Struff and a qualifier awaits eighth seed Daniil Medvedev.
And defending champion Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain faces Indian wild card Ramkumar Ramanathan in the first round.
"We are delighted we welcome both old faces and new to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships," said Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Dubai Duty Free.
"Everyone will be keen to see if Roger Federer can win the title yet again, or if a new name will be added to one of the most sought after trophies on the ATP Tour."
Salah Tahlak, the tournament director, is looking forward to enjoying another great week of tennis. "We have enjoyed a fantastic women's tournament and now look forward to another wonderful week of exciting competition."
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com