R&R: Federer aims for 100th title in Dubai; Nadal returns in Acapulco

February has been fun while it’s lasted, but March, and the sense of spring’s impending arrival that comes with it, will be here by the end of the week. For tennis fans, that hopeful development comes with equally promising news on the ATP side: the return of two guys who by now are as reliable as the seasons, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

The Spanish and Swiss legends will head up strong, 500-level fields in Acapulco and Dubai. Here’s a look ahead at those draws, and two others that round out the week.

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (ATP)

*Dubai, UAE

$2,887,895; 500 ranking points

Hard court

Draw is here*

Nearly $3 million is on offer in this 32-player draw, which is not a bad per capita haul. It’s enough, along with whatever appearance fee Federer likely commanded, to bring him back to competition for the first time since the Australian Open. The fact that Dubai is one of Federer’s homes away from home probably didn’t hurt, either.

Federer has won this tournament a record seven times, though his last title came four years ago. In 2018 he skipped it to play, and win, the 500 event in Rotterdam instead. So while he’s not technically defending those points here, he’ll be trying to match an early-season title from last year. If he does that, he'll win his 100th career title.

Upon his return to Dubai, Federer will be greeted by Philipp Kohlschreiber in a first-round encounter. Theoretically, the German is the right guy for Federer to face when he needs to shake off some rust: He’s 13-0 against him. Presumably, Federer will have tougher matchups later, against the likes of Milos Raonic in the quarters; Borna Coric, Karen Khachanov or Roberto Bautista Agut in the semis; Kei Nishikori, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev or Marin Cilic in the final.

First-round match to watch: Cilic vs. Gael Monfils

Abierto Mexicano Telcel (ATP)

*Acapulco, Mexico

$1,931,110; 500 ranking points

Hard court

Draw is here*

Nadal will return to competition for the first time since his run to the Australian Open final—and his straight-set loss to Novak Djokovic in said final. Will Rafa be heartened by his six wins in Melbourne, or deflated by the loss? We’ll start to get a idea when he opens against Mischa Zverev. This German, who will press Nadal at the net, may be a slightly tougher out than the one Federer faces in his Dubai opener.

Zverev the Elder won’t be the last of Rafa’s challenges, either. His path to the final could potentially lead through Nick Kyrgios in the second round, Stan Wawrinka in the quarters, John Isner in the semis, and Alexander Zverev in the final. Fortunately for Nadal, who pulled out of Acapulco and the U.S. spring hard-court events with a leg injury last year, he’s not defending any ranking points this week.

Other entrants of interest: Alex de Minaur, Frances Tiafoe

Waving good-bye: David Ferrer, whose 2019 farewell tour continues

Abierto Mexicano Telcel (WTA)

*Acapulco, Mexico

$250,000; International

Hard court

Draw is here*

After an entertainingly star-studded event in Dubai, the WTA quiets considerably this week. The only official tour event is an International-level draw that takes place alongside the men in Acapulco. Still, the field there might be described as sneaky strong: U.S. fans will welcome the return of three high American seeds—Sloane Stephens, Danielle Collins and Sofia Kenin—while Donna Vekic and Maria Sakkari will try to continue promising seasons.

First-round match to watch: Collins vs. Victoria Azarenka

Guaranteed breakthrough: Mihaela Buzarnescu is 0-7 in 2019; Daria Gavrilova is 0-5. After their first-round match in Acapulco, one of them will be on the board this year.

Brasil Open (ATP)

*Sao Paulo, Brazil

$618,810; 250 ranking points

Red clay

Draw is here*

While Rafa and Roger and the rest of the ATP elite prep for the hard-court season, the red-clay core soldiers on for another week in Sao Paulo. Joao Sousa and Malek Jaziri are the top two seeds; they’ll compete with 26 other players for the $619,000 purse. Which isn’t exactly chicken feed.

In the draw, as of now: Laslo Djere and Felix Auger-Aliassime, who contested the Rio Open final in 91-degree heat on Sunday.

ATP/WTA Acapulco

• Rafael Nadal, Alexander Zverev, Juan Martin del Potro and Sloane Stephens headline the Abierto Mexicano Telcel. Watch live coverage on Tennis Channel Plus beginning Monday, 2/25 at 5:00 pm ET.

ATP Dubai

• Watch Roger Federer, Kei Nishikori, Marin Cilic and Karen Khachanov live from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship starting Monday, 2/25 at 5:00 am ET

ATP Sao Paulo

• Tennis Channel Plus features live coverage of the Brasil Open beginning Monday, 2/25 at 10:30 am ET