Novak Djokovic and Marin Cilic to meet top seeds in Dubai doubles opener

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and Croatian tennis star Marin Cilic have teamed up to play the doubles together at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship next week. 

Djokovic, 32, and 31-year-old Cilic will debut as a pair on the hard courts of Dubai as they have no past team appearances. 

Djokovic and Cilic didn't receive a favorable draw in Dubai as they will be taking on top-seeded Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury in their opener at the tournament. 

Ram and Salisbury, who have been playing together since the beginning of 2019, made five finals last year and appeared at the Nitto ATP Finals. 

Ram and Salisbury claimed two titles last year but one of those two titles came in Dubai as the two beat Ben McLachlan and Jan-Lennard Struff to win it all. 

Now, Ram and Salisbury have made a perfect start to the new season as they made it all the way at the Australian Open to claim their maiden Grand Slam team title. 

It remains to be seen if Djokovic and Cilic can pull off a big surprise and knock out the defending champions.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/39XLIbu