Elena Rybakina is eager to properly celebrate her recent Australian Open victory at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships this week. Living in Dubai since 2024, the Kazakh champion acknowledges the hectic nature of professional tennis, especially after a remarkable win that leaves little time for festivities.
At 26, Rybakina is navigating the challenges of being the top seed at the WTA 1000 tournament. She expressed a desire to catch up with friends and revisit favorite spots in the city, yet pointed out the tight schedule that limits her time for relaxation. “Honestly, it’s really not enough time,” Rybakina shared, reflecting on the whirlwind of activities since returning from Australia, including a brief illness that sidelined her shortly after her win.
As she prepares for the tournament, Rybakina is excited but aware of the competitive field ahead. The draw has structured her potential path to the final to include formidable opponents such as No. 7 seed Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals and world No. 5 Coco Gauff in the semifinals. The event boasts 16 of the top 20 players, making it a challenging competition.
Also looking to make her mark is world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini, who is returning to Dubai with positive memories after winning the Dubai championship in 2024. Paolini emphasizes the importance of enjoying the game rather than fixating on results. Despite a rocky start to the week with an early exit in Doha, she is hopeful that playing in Dubai will energize her for the season.
Coco Gauff, featured prominently due to her partnership with Mercedes-Benz as the face of their new long-term alliance with the WTA Tour, welcomes the growing interest from major brands in the women’s game. Gauff expressed her pride in representing such a prestigious brand and underscored the significance of this collaboration for the growth of women’s sports, noting, “It definitely shows we have market value.”
With the excitement building up in Dubai, players like Rybakina, Paolini, and Gauff are looking forward to leveraging this prestigious tournament not just for points, but also for the broader implications it holds for the growth and visibility of women’s tennis.