The Dubai Championships is to take place without Roger Federer (6/1 to win four Grand Slams in 2010 on tennis ante post coupon) as the world number one has pulled out due to illness.

Federer (11/4 to win 3 Grand Slams this season on coupon) has won the event four times during his career to date, but a lung infection means he will miss the competition that begins on Monday.

It was scheduled to be Federer’s first appearance since his victory in the Australian Open, but that return to the game is now pencilled in for Indian Wells next month.

In Federer’s absence, the likes of Andy Murray (7/4 to win 1 Grand Slam in 2010 on ante post coupon), who the Swiss ace beat in the Melbourne Park final, and world number two Novak Djokovic are now likely to be classed as favourites for the Dubai Championships.

Murray takes on Igor Kunitsyn in the first round while Djokovic faces Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.