He has previously deployed the shot successfully in the 2007 Dubai Open, and the 2009 and 2010 US Opens.
Meanwhile, Federer's defense of the Dubai Open title ended in semifinal defeat Friday to Czech Tomas Berdych , the man who also upset him at last year's U.S. Open.
Earlier on Friday, defending champion Venus Williams cruised into the final of the Dubai Open as she ended the surprise run of Shahar Peer with a 6-1 6-4 win in the semifinals.
It is the first time in the history of the 20-year-old Dubai Open that all top four seeds have reached the semifinals and del Potro and Berdych were largely untroubled in their last eight clashes.
Murray fell ill at the Dubai Open two weeks ago and then pulled out of Great Britain's Davis Cup tie against Ukraine, saying the virus had hit him harder than any illness during his career.
The leading lady turned up in Dubai last month to open SPiN Dubai, a nightclub-cum-ping pong hall that aims to make the often-ridiculed sport a trendy pastime once again.
And the world's largest mall, soon to open in Dubai, boasts a vast indoor aquarium, a supersize indoor gold souk modelled on traditional Arabian markets, and an Olympic-size ice rink.
But Nocera could catch her if she wins the Ladies' English Open and the Dubai Ladies' Masters next month.
Armani's Dubai hotel, due to open in 2007, will be an exception, however, with 250 rooms.
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The Dubai store, scheduled to open at the end of March, will be the first outside Oman.
The latest to open: The Dubai Mall in the United Arab Emirates, a mini metropolis featuring 1, 200 stores, a 22-screen movie theater and a five star hotel.
At Sheikh Ahmed's prompting, the government has implemented a highly liberal open-skies policy, encouraging other countries to open routes to Dubai and allowing Emirates to build its network.
He soon beat Mr. Djokovic in Dubai and arrived at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif.
Gordon Goudie and Matthew Parker are certain to open the bowling attack in Dubai, with Drummond and Richie Berrington offering back-up.
Djokovic had won 17 matches since the start of the year, which included his run to a fourth Australian Open crown and the ATP title in Dubai.
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But the key to Dubai's success is being what its neighbours are not: open-minded, open-hearted and wide open for business.
Next to New York City, which has the greatest number of Starwood hotels at 21, Dubai has the most of any city, 14, and is set to open six new properties.
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The US Open winner needs a top-three finish to have any chance of passing Race to Dubai leader Martin Kaymer.
Dubai organizers expect the rest of the world's top-10 players to play, including Australian Open winner Serena Williams and her sister Venus, the defending champion.
Williams said her back also troubled her in last week's Qatar Open, where she was beaten in the final by the Belorussian, who withdrew from the Dubai championships with a foot injury.
The chairman of the Dubai state company that owns the ship, Istithmar World, said he expects the 300-room hotel to open within 18 months.
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That means that between now and the French Open, he's going to play at most 19 more matches. (Federer won Dubai, Indian Wells and Madrid last year, so he has many ranking points to defend from those events.) If he plays 15 to 18, that's plenty.
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