Aryna Sabalenka leads a star-studded field in Dubai Tennis Championships

Dubai: World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka headlines a star-studded field that includes all top 10 women’s players to take centre stage at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships this month, as the WTA event celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Since its inception in 2001, the women’s tournament at the Championships has proved a regular showcase of world-class tennis, with legends such as Monica Seles, Serena Williams, and Justine Henin gracing the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium over the years. Elevated to permanent WTA 1000 status last season, this year’s edition is poised to be an unforgettable landmark event, with a line-up that going into the Australian Open included all 40 of the world’s top 40.

Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, added two more majors to her resume in 2024, winning a second Australian Open in January before clinching a maiden US Open title in September. Sabalenka reclaimed her spot of world No1 at the end of last year, overtaking Iga Swiatek, who will also be returning to the Championships this month.

Swiatek, now second in the world rankings, became a five-time Grand Slam champion in 2024, claiming her fourth Roland Garros title in early June. The Pole made it to the semi-finals in Dubai last season, where she was upset in straight sets by qualifier Anna Kalinskya, ranked outside the top 50 at the time. Swiatek and Sabalenka, atop the WTA rankings and with multiple majors to their names, will both be aiming to capture their first Dubai title.

This year will also see the return of Madison Keys, who beat the top stars to clinch her first Grand Slam in Australia last month.

Coco Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion and ranked No 3 in the world, and her US compatriots Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro, world No 6 and No 9 respectively, will also feature at the emirate’s WTA 1000 event, which runs from February 16-22.

Last year’s winner in Dubai, Jasmine Paolini, will begin her title defence looking to build upon her best season to date. Just behind world No 4 Paolini in the rankings is Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion while world No 8 Qinwen Zheng will also be making her way back to the emirate. Rounding off the top 10 seeds at this year’s event is Paula Badosa, who marks her fourth appearance at the event this year.

“This year’s WTA 1000 tournament is once again filled with the world’s best players, as our reigning champion Jasmine Paolini returns to defend her crown,” said Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free and Chairman of the tournament’s Organising Committee. “This is a landmark tournament for WTA week as we celebrate the 25th anniversary, which precedes the 33rd ATP week, so it is great to have so many of the world’s top 40 confirmed to participate.”

Tournament Director Salah Tahlak, who also serves as Deputy Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, added: “The WTA event’s significance on the global tennis calendar continues to grow, underlined by the tournament being awarded permanent WTA 1000 status in 2024. It is fitting that we have so many of the world’s top female players competing in this year’s landmark 25th edition.”