Roger Federer: Dubai tournament director confirms Swiss star will skip event

Federer, who is a seven time champion Dubai, was yet to confirm his attendance at the event, which begins on Monday.

The 36-year-old won the Rotterdam Open last week and became world No 1 for the first time since 2012.

Organisers in Dubai had been hopeful Federer would play given that he has a home in the city but tournament director Salah Tahlak has confirmed the 20-time Grand Slam will miss the event to spend time with his wife Mirka and four children.

“I have been in touch with his agent and the last time we spoke he informed me that Federer would rather spend some quality time at home with his wife and kids than make the trip to Dubai,” Tahlak told Gulf News.

“He also said that this decision from the world No. 1 has nothing to do with Dubai, but it’s simply because he doesn’t want to take any chances during the build-up to his defence of the two titles in Indian Wells and Miami.

“In fact he has conveyed his willingness to come and play in Dubai next year.”