The women’s tournament of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships begins on Sunday, February 15. Ahead of the WTA event, Ahmed Rizvi identifies the players who count as most a threat to win the title.
Serena Williams
Ranking: 1; Career Titles: 65; Grand Slams: 19
One of the greatest in history, the 33-year-old has appeared in the main draw of the Dubai tournament four times, but has never gone beyond the semis – losing at the last-four stage on her debut in 2005 (to Jelena Jankovic), 2009 (to Venus Williams) and 2014 (Alize Cornet). Organisers and fans will be hoping she can improve on those showings this year and go all the way.
Venus Williams
Ranking: 11; Career Titles: 46; Grand Slams: 7
A year ago, Venus arrived in Dubai as a wildcard, ranked a modest No 48 in the world, and she returned home with her biggest title since the 2010 Mutua Madrid Open, defeating players like Ana Ivanovic and Caroline Wozniacki along the way. In the final she met Frenchwoman Alize Cornet, who dashed hopes of a dream all-Williams final by knocking out Serena in the semis. Hopefully, the draw permitting, that final happens this time.
Simona Halep
Ranking: 3; Career Titles: 9; Grand Slams: None
One of the most consistent performers on the tour last season and finalist at the French Open and the Tour Championship, has made three appearances in the Dubai main draw but is yet to win two matches on the trot here. Should be able to improve on that this time as the No 2 seed, placed in the opposite half of the draw as Serena.
Petra Kvitova
Ranking: 4; Career Titles: 15; Grand Slams: 2
One of the four former champions in the fray, the Czech has failed to win her opening match on three of the four occasions she has been here, losing to opponents like Julia Schruff (No 148 then) and Ayumi Morita (No 57 at the time) on her first two visits before winning the title in 2013. Made another first round exit last year, so really hard to make predictions for her.
Caroline Wozniacki
Ranking: 5; Career Titles: 22; Grand Slams: None
In the midst of a resurgence, the former world No 1 made her first grand slam final in five years in New York last year, but was knocked out in the second round at the Australian Open by Victoria Azarenka. The 2011 Dubai champion, however, has generally done well here with semi-final or better on each of her last four trips. Should be looking to keep that streak going.
Ana Ivanovic
Ranking: 6; Career Titles: 15; Grand Slams: 1
Another former world No 1 who is enjoying a resurgence after slipping to No 65 in 2010, the Serb was a first-round casualty at the Australian Open, falling to No 142-ranked Czech qualifier Lucie Hradecka. It was her earliest loss at a grand slam since her first-round lost at the 2011 French Open, but hopefully she can prove that loss was only a minor blip with a strong show in Dubai.
Agnieszka Radwanska
Ranking: 8; Career Titles: 14; Grand Slams: None
The 2012 Dubai champion looked really good in Australia, winning her first three matches in straight sets, with a bagel (6-0) in each of those matches, before being knocked out by Venus. The Pole has made only one grand slam final (2012 Wimbledon) in her career, but is the winner of the WTA Fan Favourite Singles Player award for the past four years and will be one of the star attractions in Dubai.
Ekaterina Makarova
Ranking: 9; Career Titles: 2; Grand Slams: None
At a career-high No 9 in the rankings following her run to the semis of the Australian Open, the 26-year-old Russian will be high on confidence and hoping to improve her disappointing record in Dubai. Makarova, who also reached the last four at the US Open, has only one win in six main draw appearances here, but not many will be queuing up to take her on in the first round this time.
Garbine Muguruza
Ranking: 24; Career Titles: 1; Grand Slams: None
Being hailed as one of the stars of the future, Muguruza announced herself on the big stage last January by winning Hobart and then knocking out Carolina Wozniacki from the Australian Open. She then beat Serena Williams 6-2, 6-2 in the second round of the French Open and looked like she could repeat that feat at the Australian Open last month after winning the first set 6-2, but the world No 1 and eventual champion prevailed in three. Blessed with jaw-dropping power, the Spaniard is a giant killer and could do some serious damage here as well.
Belinda Bencic
Ranking: 37; Career Titles: None; Grand Slams: None
Another member of the Generation Next, the 17-year-old Swiss, coached by Martina Hingis’ mother Melanie Molitor, became the youngest US Open quarter-finalist in 17 years last September, beating top-10 players like Angelique Kerber and Jelena Jankovic along the way. Her performance got her the 2014 Newcomer of the Year award and UAE tennis fans will have the opportunity to watch one of the brightest young talents in action.
Follow us at our new home on Twitter @NatSportUAE