World number-two Roger Federer of Switzerland and third-ranked Serbian Novak Djokovic renew their rivalry this week at the Dubai Tennis Championships in the United Arab Emirates. The top-seeded Federer will be looking for revenge against Djokovic, who beat him in the semifinals of the Australian Open on his way to winning the title at the opening Grand Slam event of the 2011 season.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic comes into the Dubai Tennis Championships with a lot of confidence. In addition to winning the tournament the past two years, the second-seeded Serbian is also the Australian Open champion, and he says he is glad to be back in Dubai.

"Of course to be able to come back to the city where you won the last two years in a row, of course it makes it even more exciting," he said. "It is a big pleasure."

Roger Federer's 2011 season is also off to a strong start, after winning in Doha at the beginning of the year and reaching the semifinals in Melbourne. The Swiss star, who has won this Masters 500 tournament four times, says it is never easy to claim the title.

"The great players that are here every year, there is always usually five to seven, eight, top-10 players that show up here in Dubai and make it a really tough tournament to win," said Federer.

But it may be a little easier than usual this year, with world number-one Spaniard Rafael Nadal and fifth-ranked Andy Murray of Scotland out with injuries and number-eight Andy Roddick of the United States skipping the event that begins Monday. Federer, who turns 30 in August, has been in Dubai for the past week to get ready for the tournament.

【体坛英语资讯：Federer, Djokovic Headline Dubai Tennis Masters】相关文章：

★ 体坛英语资讯：1st torchbearer: Beijing Olympic Games to be big success

★ 体坛英语资讯：Bayern closer to title, Leverkusen tie

★ 体坛英语资讯：USA, France and Argentina cruise into Davis Cup last 8

★ 体坛英语资讯：Respect, admiration abound in Shanghai

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Nicole Kidman is deeply in love, but not happy

★ 体坛英语资讯：Vultures circling over Federer

★ 体坛英语资讯：China chalks up breathtaking victory at world table tennis

★ 体坛英语资讯：Chinas EAFC title hopes dashed after losing to Japan 1-0

★ 体坛英语资讯：10-man Bayern beat Bochum to go closer to title

★ 体坛英语资讯：Alonso crashes out of Japanese GP