DUBAI STARTS MONDAY

Defending champion Roger Federer will play 12th-ranked Andy Murray in the opening round of the Dubai Championships.

The draw on Saturday also featured Rafael Nadal against Phillipp Kohlschreiber [who beat Roddick in the Oz Open]. Andy Roddick will make his Dubai debut against Juan Carlos Ferrero.

The tournament, which includes the top six players in the field of 32, starts Monday at the Aviation Club.

Federer, a four-time champion, has lost only two matches in Dubai -- to Rainer Schuettler of Germany in 2002 and Rafael Nadal in the 2006 final.

Federer and Murray are 1-1. The Briton won their last match, in the second round of the 2006 ATP Masters in Cincinnati.

Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic opens against Marin Cilic. The Serb could then play Mikhail Youzhny, who lost to Federer in the final last year.