Rafael Nadal defeated Roger Federer in the 2006 Dubai Open final. The Swiss restored order in the desert a year later, beating Mikhail Youzhny and securing his fourth Dubai title in the previous five years.. Roger concluded the 2006 season on a high note and continued that pace into early 2007 after winning the Australian Open.
After a well-deserved rest, the Swiss emerged as the clear favorite in Dubai and clinched the title with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Mikhail Youzhny. Roger kicked off the action with a 7-6, 3-6, 6-3 win over Kristian Pless. The world leading player struggled a bit in sets one and two, unable to break the opponent’s resistance.
However, Federer controlled things in the decider to emerge on top. Roger faced Daniele Bracciali in the second round and scored a 7-5, 6-3 victory with only one break in each set. Two players outside of the top 80 were behind Federer, and the first real test was just around the corner with young Serbian Novak Djokovic.
Roger Federer lifted his fourth Dubai title in 2007.
Roger defeated Novak 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 in over two hours for a place in the last four. A teenager twice broke Roger’s serve to stay in contention. Still, the Swiss crossed the finish line first with four breaks taking him into the last four.
Federer found himself in the final following a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Tommy Haas, won on two breaks of serve. world no. 18 Mikhail Youzhny stood between Federer and his fourth Dubai title. The Swiss cruised to a 6-4, 6-3 victory in one hour and 25 minutes for his 47th title and 41st straight win!
Roger and Mikhail met for the ninth time, and the world did not. 1 grabbed the ninth win. He suffered two breaks but controlled the scoring with a rock-solid performance on the return. Roger created 18 break chances and converted four to emerge on top.
It wasn’t the best start for Federer, who had his serve broken in the first game of the match after Youzhny’s winning return. The Russian fired a backhand down the line winner in the second game to cement the break and set a great pace.
Federer put his name on the scoreboard in the third game with straight aces and returned to the silver lining when Youzhny double-faulted in the next. The Russian had to dig deep in game eight to stay in touch, dispatching two break points before the Swiss converted in the third to advance 5-3 and serve for the opener.
Suddenly, Mikhail found the zone again and fired a backhand down the line winner to win back the break and extend the set. However, Youzhny lost serve again in the tenth game, handing the first goal to the Swiss. Unsurprisingly, Roger had the momentum and earned a break in the second game of the second set to move closer to the finish line.
Federer took a 5-2 lead and created five match points on the return of the eighth game. Youzhny found a way to fire them and survive. Still, Federer fired three service winners at 5-3 to seal the deal and celebrate his fourth Dubai crown in the last five years.
Furthermore, Roger embraced an unrealistic 60 wins in the previous 61 meetings since Halle last June to extend his dominance over the rest of the Tour!
