Dubai Tennis: Can Philipp Kohlschreiber make it lucky No 14 and end losing streak to Roger Federer?

The German has lost all 13 of his previous matches with the 20-time major winner ahead of Monday's first-round match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - FEBRUARY 26:  Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany serves in his match against Gleb Sakharov of France during day one of the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships at the Dubai Duty Free Stadium on February 26, 2018 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.  (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
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For Philipp Kohlschreiber it is a case of hoping it is lucky No 14 when he steps on court against Roger Federer on Monday night on Centre Court at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

For the German world No 31 has lost all 13 of his previous matches with the 20-time major winner.

His losing run began in Halle in 2005 with a 6-3, 6-4 loss in the quarter-finals, with the most recent defeat being in Rotterdam 12 months ago 7-6, 7-5 at the last-16 stages.

The closest Kohlschreiber has come to beating the world No 7 was in Halle in 2015 when the match went to a final set tie-break before he lost 7-6, 3-6, 7-6.

Kohlschreiber's form going into the action in Dubai does not scream upset as other then a run to the semi-finals in Auckland in January his play has been largely underwhelming.

But he can take heart from a solid record in Dubai, reaching the semi-finals in 2014, and twice being a quarter-finalist in 2016 and 2017.

The latter is best remembered for an epic tie-break against eventual champion Andy Murray, which he lost 20-18, spurning seven match points during it as his British opponent fought back to win 6-7, 7-6, 6-1.

He and Federer are due to start around 7pm on Monday night in the opening match of the evening session.

The winner will face either Fernando Verdasco or Thomas Fabbiano in the last 16.