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Spain's Garbine Muguruza answers a question during a press conference at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia. Image Credit: AP

Dubai: Tickets for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships will go on sale online from Thursday (January 18) through the tournament website, while the stadium box office will open a week later (on Thursday, January 25), it was announced on Monday.

A great line-up of players are again vying for the title at Dubai Tennis Stadium from February 19 to March 3.

Colm McLoughlin, executive vice-chairman and chief executive officer of Dubai Duty Free, said: “This year we are opening ticket sales online in advance of the box office to ensure that all fans have an equal chance to purchase tickets to see the world’s top players in action.

“The women’s entry list is now finalised and we are looking forward to sharing the ATP list in the coming days. We are delighted to announce another impressive women’s line-up, headed by Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza and our defending champion Elina Svitolina, which also includes several of our previous champions and finalists.”

Spain’s Muguruza won her first Grand slam at the 2016 French Open, and followed that up with a remarkable season in 2017, winning Wimbledon, reaching World No. 1 and being named the WTA Player of the Year.

Now World No. 3, Muguruza will face a formidable line up in Dubai which includes Dubai 2017 champion Elina Svitolina. Svitolina, now ranked World No. 4, led the WTA Tour in singles titles in 2017 and has continued her good form, winning the first Premier title of the season and her 10th career title at the Brisbane International earlier this month.

Svitolina is one of three former champions in the hunt for their second Dubai title, with Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska and Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova also in the line-up. Four of the top 10 and 11 of the top 20 ranked women are in the fray, including World No. 8 Caroline Garcia and previous Dubai runners-up — World No. 6 Karolina Pliskova; Barbora Strycova; and Julia Goerges. Goerges is also in winning form, taking her third consecutive WTA title at the ASB Classic in Auckland this month with a win over Caroline Wozniacki.

Also in the mix will be former World No. 1 and 2016 Australian Open and US Open champion, Angelique Kerber, and young hopefuls 21-year-old Australian Ashleigh Barty and 22-year-old American Madison Keys. Kerber returned to the podium last weekend, holding off a determined Barty to win her first title of 2018, the Sydney International.

Tournament director, Salah Tahlak said: “The women’s line-up is fantastic and with so many players performing so well we are sure to see some incredible matches, and in the proud tradition of this tournament, it may yet produce another surprise champion.

“Ticket prices start from as little as Dh55 for the opening three days of WTA week, ensuring fans a fantastic opportunity to see the top players in action on Centre Court, as well as enjoying the packed social programme.

“As always, the Tennis Village will be buzzing all fortnight with entertainment, music, autograph signings, the big screens showing the action live and a host of other events and activities including Kids’ Days, Ladies’ Night, and plenty of competitions for fans to win those sought after finals tickets.”

The women’s tournament will run from February 19 followed by the men’s from February 26. Both offer equal prize money from a combined prize pool of $5.6 million (Dh20.57 million).

Tickets for the women’s event start from Dh55 for opening rounds going up to Dh735 for the men’s finals. To purchase online visit http://www.dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com/en/tickets and for further information go to www.dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com.