February 10, 1997
The tournament has earned a name as being one of the more popular stopovers on the ATP Tour. The event offers a total prize money of $1,014,250 (Dh3,724,853) with the winner to pocket $142,000 (Dh521,497) and 200 ATP points.
Argentina's Hernan Gumy and qualifier James Sekulov of Australia, was a one-sided affair with Gumy winning 6-4,6-3. Gumy took some time to get into his grove. They traded blow for blow till 4-4 in the first set.
February 11, 1997
Second seed Thomas Muster of Austria played great tennis in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Open and outplayed qualifier Tomas Nydahl of Sweden 6-4, 6-3.
In another first round match, Javier Sanchez of Sweden needed three sets to get the better of qualifier Lars Jonsson 6-4, 6-7(2-7), 6-2. None expected 133 ranked qualifier Lars Jonsson of Sweden to give 35 ranked Javier Sanchez of Spain a fight.
February 12, 1997
Three Wimbledon champions and three former world No 1 players were in action on the same day. Spaniard Carlos Moya crashed to a first round defeat against lesser known Czech Republic's Jiri Novak. Leander Paes of India had the backing of a vociferous expatriate crowd but did not possess the endurance to overcome reigning Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek in the first round. Pat Cash exhibited flashes of his glory days on his way to a surprise 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (8-6) win over Spain's Carlos Costa.
February 13, 1997
Goran Ivanisevic, the world No 2, got the better of Czech Republic's Bohdan Ulihrach 7-6 (10-8), 6-4, while seventh seed Boris Becker ousted Australia's Sandon Stolle 7-6 (9-7) 6-1. Through an intense clash that lasted two hours and nine minutes, South Africa's Wayne Ferreira outplayed wild card Pat Cash to join Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek, world No 3 Thomas Muster and former world number one Jim Courier in the last eight stage.
February 14, 1997
Jiri Novak shot down a second star in the tournament and took an aim at defending champion Goran Ivanisevic in the semifinals. The Czech seed-slayer, claimed the scalp of third seed Richard Krajicek on an eventful day's play. Novak, the Czech number two, won 6-2, 6-2 and said: "I was playing the Wimbledon champion and I knew I had nothing to lose. I played without any pressure."
February 15, 1997
The two stalwarts of the game, world No 3 Thomas Muster and former world No 1 Jim Courier, fought a titanic battle in the semifinals. Muster overcame the challenge of Courier 7-6 (7-3), 2-6,6-3 to take on defending champion Goran Ivanisevic. Munster said: "I think when two former No 1 players are against each other it's always competition."
Rival player, Ivanisevic said: "When I am playing tennis I don't like to win 6-0,6-0, it is too boring for me. I like to invent something. Invent a crisis."
February 16, 1997
Austrian Thomas Muster (right) overpowered defending champion Goran Ivanisevic (left) of Croatia 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) to win the $1 million (Dh3.6m) Dubai Tennis Open. The victory enabled Muster to claim the No 2 in the world from Ivanisevic, who slipped to No 3.
