Roger Federer v Granollers: Dubai Tennis Championships 2011 - preview
Switzerland’s, Roger Federer, top seed and world number 2 is scheduled to take on Spain’s Marcel Granollers in the second round of the Dubai tennis championships 2011.
Federer, a former winner at this event, progressed to the second round with a straight forward victory over his first round opponent, the wild card, Somdev Devvarman.
Granollers also posted an impressive victory in his first round tie when he took down Dimitry Tursunov 6-1, 6-3.
This tournament is Federer’s first since his semi-final exit at the Australian Open. As one of the best tennis players of all time, Federer, is definitely the favourite to come out triumphant against the Spaniard.
He has had a great start to the season with his victory at Doha being a dominant display of his usual game. The Australian Open also saw some wonderful tennis flow from his racquet and his defeat to Novak Djokovic was an instance of a top player playing
the best tennis of his career to beat another top player.
According to the 16 time Grand Slam champion, he feels good even after the defeat. In an interview before the current tournament, the former world number 1 said, "I am playing well; I had a good end to last season. I think I have had some of the best for
anyone over the past six months. I beat Djokovic three times at the end of last season (Shanghai, Basel and London) but that gets lost in the shuffle. I am coming to Dubai with a spring in my step”.
Such optimism from the great must surely inspire a cold sweat or two from any potential opponent. Granollers too is probably feeling a sense of foreboding as he prepares to take on the top seed.
Ranked 54th in the world according to the South African Airways ATP world rankings, the Spaniard has almost no chance of winning his next match. He does not have the weapons that make his compatriot, Rafael Nadal, so successful against the Fed
Express.
Even though he is, like most Spaniards, a defensive baseliner, he neither has Nadal’s foot speed nor his unmatched strength. On the hard courts, Federer and his repertoire of offensive weapons reign supreme over the baseliners.
A defeat for Federer would come as a huge upset here, especially since he is almost level with world number 3 Novak Djokovic on ranking points here.
The king has made his intention to challenge Rafael Nadal’s position at the top clear with these words, "Regaining the number one ranking (from Nadal) is important for me, but I am really looking to win tournaments - though it is always nice to do so beating
the top guys”.
If Federer is to reach his goal, he must eliminate all opposition here. Like in 2007, he will look to be dominant. If he succeeds, a final showdown against Djokovic awaits. Revenge for the Australian Open will definitely taste sweet to Federer, if that match
does come about.
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