While the two former No. 1s have a chance to resume their long rivalry in Doha, much of the talk has still centered around a player who isn’t here: Novak Djokovic.

The top-ranked Serb swept aside Federer in straight sets en route to winning an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi last week, and then said he was playing better than he did at this time last season—when he went on to win three Grand Slam titles.

Nadal, who lost to Djokovic in the U.S. Open and Wimbledon finals in 2011, said Monday that “everyone” thinks Djokovic will be difficult to beat this season as well.

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