The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships has kicked off its much-anticipated WTA 1000 tournament with an exciting draw that promises thrilling matches. Scheduled to take place at the renovated Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium from February 18 to February 24, this year’s event boasts an impressive roster, featuring 16 of the top 20 players globally.
Among the elite competitors is Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina, currently ranked World No. 3, along with World No. 5 Coco Gauff and last year’s champion, Mirra Andreeva. Collectively, six Grand Slam singles winners will be vying for the title, bringing a wealth of experience and excitement to the tournament.
As the top eight seeds received first-round byes, Rybakina is set to begin her campaign with a second-round match against Germany’s Tatjana Maria. Meanwhile, No. 2 seed Amanda Anisimova could potentially face two-time Grand Slam winner Barbora Krejcikova in the Round of 32, assuming Krejcikova emerges victorious in her initial match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Rybakina’s section of the draw includes a host of impressive athletes such as Gauff (No. 3 seed), World No. 9 Elina Svitolina (No. 7 seed), and 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko (No. 10 seed). Rising star Alexandra Eala from the Philippines will attract significant local support when she competes against Lucky Loser Hailey Baptiste of the US, aiming to set up a potential clash with 2024 Dubai winner Jasmine Paolini.
Equally exciting is the opportunity for the Filipino community to cheer on Leylah Fernandez, who will take on No. 13 seed Liudmila Samsonova on Centre Court earlier in the day.
On the other side of the draw, the tournament also features WTA’s youngest 1000 winner Andreeva, alongside World No. 6 Jessica Pegula. Greek standout Maria Sakkari is preparing for her opening round match against No. 16 seed Iva Jovic, who is making her debut in the Middle East. Jovic, having taken in the breathtaking views from the Burj Khalifa, is enthusiastic about her first appearance in the region as she gears up for the challenge ahead.
WTA Supervisor Clare Wood led the draw event alongside figures such as Ramesh Cidambi and Salah Tahlak from Dubai Duty Free, highlighting the exciting upgrades being made to the venue. Cidambi announced the completion of a new 2,000-seat Court One and plans for a further expansion of Centre Court to increase capacity to 7,500.
The draw also saw the announcement of four wildcards, with Zeynep Sonmez, Sara Bejlek, Lulu Sun, and Janice Tjen given the opportunity to compete, setting the stage for an exciting tournament ahead. This year’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is gearing up to be an event filled with high-level competition and remarkable talents, promising a thrilling experience for fans and players alike.