Dubai Tennis Championships set for thrilling start with star-studded line-up

Dubai: For 25 years, Dubai has been a proving ground for tennis greatness, with champions rising under its floodlights and unforgettable battles playing out on its courts. This year’s milestone edition of the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships promises another thrilling chapter, boasting one of the most competitive line-ups outside a Grand Slam.

With 26 of the world’s top 30 players in action, the tournament is set to deliver world-class clashes from the outset. But while familiar stars and fresh talents prepare to light up the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, one influential figure is notably absent — Colm McLoughlin, the visionary who helped shape the event into what it is today.

As the tournament celebrates its silver anniversary, the absence of McLoughlin casts a poignant shadow over the festivities. Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, acknowledged McLoughlin’s vital role in the championship’s creation during his opening address at a media gathering on Saturday. “Colm has been with the tournament since the inception. We miss him,” Cidambi said, honouring the legacy of the man who was instrumental in bringing the event to life.

“The line-up is absolutely fantastic. I take pride in the fact that the DDF WTA Tournament has grown under Tournament Director Salah Tahlak’s leadership and is now permanently in the WTA 1,000 category, which is a remarkable achievement.”

Reigning champion Jasmine Paolini faces a tough challenge in defending her crown, as the field includes nine of the top 10 players, led by current world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and second-ranked Iga Swiatek with both players targeting their first Dubai title. Swiatek lost to Barbora Krejcikova in the 2023 final.

The WTA championship has already served up some intriguing first-round clashes, including a high-profile showdown between former US Open champion Emma Raducanu and Greek star Maria Sakkari, a former world No. 3 and two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist.

Tunisian ace Ons Jabeur, meanwhile, will take on American Peyton Stearns in the opening round. With the full draw completed during Saturday’s ceremony at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, the stage is set for a thrilling week of world-class women’s tennis, with 36 of the top 40 players set to take to the courts in Garhoud.

“Colm was tennis, and tennis was Colm in Dubai,” Sinead El Sibai, Senior Vice-President of Marketing at DDF, summed up the role he played. “DDF was involved in other sports, but he thought tennis would be a good fit for Dubai.”

El Sibai, who travelled with McLoughlin from the tournament’s inception, explained how Dubai added the women’s championship in 2001.

“He loved tennis and spent a lot of time at the stadium, making additions to enhance the fan experience while being there every night to lend his support to the staff, who worked tirelessly during the tournament. A one-week tournament was too short for him, so he thought, ‘Let’s add another week.’ It was very agreeable, and he easily convinced the WTA with the success we had already achieved with the men’s tournament.”

Raducanu, who received a wild card for the event, is making her Dubai debut and aims to extend her winning record against Sakkari. She previously defeated the Greek No. 1 in the 2021 US Open semi-final en route to her maiden Grand Slam title before repeating the feat with a straight-sets victory at Wimbledon last year.

The 2024 finalist Anna Kalinskaya, now ranked world No. 18, and Sorana Cîrstea, a two-time WTA Tour singles champion and Dubai resident making her ninth appearance at the tournament, attended the draw ceremony.

Kalinskaya enjoyed a career-defining year in 2024, climbing from world No. 77 to just outside the top 10, with victories over Coco Gauff, Swiatek, and Jelena Ostapenko on her way to last year’s final in Dubai.

“I’m very excited to be back. I have so many good memories from last year’s amazing matches, so I’m really looking forward to playing in front of this crowd. Hopefully, I can put on a great performance and deliver some exciting matches,” the 26-year-old said.

Asked about her plans to improve in 2025, she added: “There’s no big secret, just hard work and improving day by day. Of course, my goal this year is to be even better and reach the top ten.”

WTA Supervisor Donna Kelso; Salah Tahlak, Tournament Director and Deputy Managing Director of DDF; Nasser Yousef Al Marzouqi, Secretary General of the UAE Tennis Federation; and WTA referee Sheetal Iyer attended the draw.

As the 25th edition of the Dubai Tennis Championships unfolds, the players will showcase not only their skill and determination, but also the enduring legacy of a tournament that continues to rise in stature year after year. This milestone edition promises to be one to remember, with top-tier tennis on display and the eyes of the world firmly focused on the courts in Dubai.