Dubai becomes the center of the women’s tennis universe in 10 days time.
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek and Australian Open champion and No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka lead a field featuring 18 of the world’s Top 20 for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
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Set for February 19-25, the annual WTA event will see the world’s elite play for a total prize money package of $2.9 million.
“Over the past 23 years, our event has grown exponentially. From the beginning the goal was to attract as many of the top players as possible and this year’s line-up really highlights that the goal has been achieved,” tournament director Salah Tahlak said.
Here’s a closer look at the top ranked female players competing in Dubai starting on February 19th:
1. Iga Swiatek: The Polish superstar is ranked World No.1 and has won three Grand Slam singles titles: The French Open in both 2020 and 2022, as well as last year’s US Open. She won eight titles in 2022, the most since Serena Williams won 11 in 2013, and she achieved the record century-long 37-match winning streak, going 135 days without losing. She wants to avenge the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships second-round defeat she suffered at the hands of Jelena Ostapenko.
2. Aryna Sabalenka: Aryna Sabalenka arrives in Dubai fresh from earning her maiden Grand Slam in a thriller at last month’s Australian Open. Previous to her Melbourne triumph, the Belarusian had never progressed past the semifinals at a major tournament. Her victory over Elena Rybakina, just months after advancing to the final four at the US Open for a second consecutive year, saw her climb to World No.2.
3. Jessica Pegula: The American holds a career-high World No. 3 singles and doubles ranking and has won two singles titles, five doubles titles, five WTA Tour doubles titles, seven ITF doubles titles, and a WTA Challenger doubles title. She has advanced to the singles quarterfinals of five Grand Slam tournaments, including the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open, and is now ranked No. 4 in the world.
4. Caroline Garcia: Garcia is ranked World No.5 and will return to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships as the WTA Finals 2022 champion. Starting last season having slipped to a lowly World No.79 as a result of various health and injury concerns, her performances in 2022 saw her shoot back up the rankings to finish the year once again inside the world’s top five. On Sunday,…
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