Rusty Wawrinka ousted from Dubai

DUBAI:HOLDER Stan Wawrinka was sensationally dumped out of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday as his form collapsed following an early 4-1 lead. The Swiss three-time Grand Slam winner was beaten 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 in the first round by outsider Damir Dzumhur.

Wawrinka was playing for the first time since suffering a right knee injury at Australian Open a month ago, where he reached his eighth major semifinal before falling to Roger Federer.

And following defeat by the 77th-ranked journeyman from Bosnia-herzegovina, he admitted that his fitness was lacking after only a week of practice.

“I started well but it was tough because I was missing a little bit something. In practice it was starting to be OK the last few days, but today I was missing something.”

DJOKOVIC EYES FUN INMEXICO

ACAPULCO: Novak Djokovic said on Monday he is ready to atone for his shock Australian Open exit as he prepares to return to action in Acapulco. The 29-year-old world number two makes his bow on Tuesday, his first match since tumbling out in Melbourne last month in second round against Uzbekistand’s Denis Istomin.

Djokovic, who is making his debut in Acapulco, said he feels in a healthier frame of mind since his travails of recent months.

“All in all, I feel that I’m in a much better state of mind than maybe I was at the end of last year. So I keep on going. I love this sport. That’s why I’m playing it. That’s why I’m here. I’m just hoping that I can stay healthy and as dedicated as best as I can be.”