DUBAI: There could be a changing of the guard at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships this year, with world number three and ATP Tour Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov leading the list of direct entries for the ATP title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium next month.

With defending champion Andy Murray out injured, the field may have opened up for a new title holder to hold the trophy aloft when play commences for the Men’s week on Feb.26.

Dimitrov, who will be making his second appearance in Dubai having played here in 2011, has emerged as a genuine contender for the world number one position after a blazing run in 2017.

The 26 year old Bulgarian rocketed up the rankings last year, jumping 14 places to finish the year as world number three. His stellar season saw him make it to five tour finals, collecting four titles, including his first Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati, and ending the year with a huge victory in the ATP Tour Finals in November.

However Dimitrov will face a tough challenge from a contingent of powerful young guns including Lucas Pouille, Damir Dzumhur, and Karen Khachanov, as well as giant killers Evgeny Donskoy and Damir Dzumhur.