Tomas Berdych: It's unusual being ranked so low in Dubai

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  • Two-time Dubai runner-up Tomas Berdych admits it is “unusual” to see the number 14 typed next to his name in the world rankings but he’s not reading too much into it as he prepares for his 11th campaign at the Aviation Club.

    The draw for the 25th anniversary edition of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships was revealed on Saturday, with top seed Andy Murray getting Tunisian world No47 Malek Jaziri in the opening round.

    The Scottish world No1 was drawn in the same half as record seven-time champion Roger Federer, the No3 seed, while second-seeded title holder Stan Wawrinka shares the bottom half of the draw with fourth-seeded Gael Monfils.

    Federer’s first match since he captured a record-extending 18th grand slam title at the Australian Open last month will be against Frenchman Benoit Paire in the opening round in Dubai, and he could face his preseason practice partner, the seventh-seeded Lucas Pouille in the quarter-finals.

    World No3 Wawrinka commences his title defence journey against Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, with fifth-seeded Berdych a possible last-eight opponent.

    Monfils opens against Egyptian wildcard Mohamed Safwat and could get sixth-seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in the quarters.

    Berdych, who is at his lowest ranking since May 2010, lost two finals in Dubai: in 2013 to Novak Djokovic and in 2014 to Roger Federer.

    “It’s one of the conditions that I like, fast courts, it’s usually sunny and bright, so the ball is also flying quite a lot, so these are conditions that I like and I think they’re going to be here again, it’s just a few unusual days (of rain), so it’s going to be all good,” Berdych told Sport360 on Saturday.

    The luck of the draw pit Berdych against Federer as early as the third round at the Australian Open last month and the Czech admits getting knocked out early at a tournament where he had reached the quarter-finals or better on his previous six visits was not ideal.

    “The early loss in Australia, unfortunately playing Roger that early, it’s a bit of missing a good portion of some points from the slam. But that’s how it is. The season is long, I just need to keep going, just working on my game and it’s going to be all fine,” said the 31-year-old.

    Is it weird having 14 typed next to his name after spending all those years inside the top-10?

    “Yes absolutely it is, but it’s just how the system is. I missed the US Open and then I didn’t really play the level that I would like to. So let’s count everything the whole year, and see how it is. The guys around are doing pretty well. Yes, it’s unusual, but I just need to keep working hard again,” replied Berdych, who was hampered by appendicitis end of last season.

    One player who is set to make his Dubai debut is Great Britain’s Dan Evans, who is enjoying a career-high ranking of No44 after reaching the final in Sydney to start the year and making the Australian Open fourth round.

    Evans was drawn to face Germany’s Dustin Brown in the first round, with a potential last-16 showdown with Monfils.

    The 26-year-old from Birmingham was ranked as low as 754 less than two years ago. He was perceived as a “wasted talent” by British press and accused of not working hard enough (he would say so himself).

    “I think that’s what they used to say, I’d say now it’s not so much,” he told reporters in Dubai on Saturday.

    “I’m maturing, you get an older and obviously find out that sooner or later you have stuff to pay for and you’ve got to win some matches otherwise it’s hard work. I’ve been enjoying it and I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing now.

    “It’s very up and down, but there’s other things in life than just tennis and obviously you had to explore them and see what they were like. They were not so good, tennis was a better option and it’s good to work hard and the rewards are good as I’m finding out now.”

    Projected quarter-finals by seed

    Top half:

    Andy Murray (GBR x1) v Gilles Muller (LUX x8)

    Roger Federer (SUI x3) v Lucas Pouille (FRA x7)

    Bottom half:

    Stan Wawrinka (SUI x2) v Tomas Berdych (CZE x5)

    Gael Monfils (FRA x4) v Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x6)

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