Elena Rybakina headlines contingent of finalists from Australian Open heading to Abu Dhabi for inaugural WTA 500 event.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

No fewer than five Australian Open finalists, including two Grand Slam champions, are heading to the UAE for the very first hosting of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open presented by Abu Dhabi Sports Council.

The first Grand Slam of the 2023 tennis season was the thriller across all events – with the ladies’ competitions hotly contested by the world’s very best. The players now switch their attention to Abu Dhabi and the WTA 500 event to be held at the International Tennis Stadium, Zayed Sport City, from February 5-12.

Women’s Singles Australian Open finalist Elena Rybakina will be one of the favourites for the tournament following her performance in Melbourne. The reigning Wimbledon champion was in impressive form with standout wins against world No.1 and top seed Iga Swiatak, along with the 13-seed Danielle Collins, who also features in the Abu Dhabi draw, before narrowly losing out to Aryna Sabalenka in three sets in the final.

There will also be a number of doubles specialists on display – with India’s Sania Mirza expected to get a lot of local support in Abu Dhabi. Sania has six Grand Slam doubles titles to her name, and was a finalist again at the Australian Open, where she partnered Rohan Bopanna in the mixed doubles.

She said: “I can’t wait to play in the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open for the first time. The UAE has become my second “home” and can’t wait to be able to finish my career here over the next month.”

Sania was pipped to the title in Australia by Brazil’s Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos, with Stefani also appearing in Abu Dhabi.

Another player to look out for is Barbora Krejcikova. The Czech star won the doubles in Melbourne alongside partner Katerina Siniakova but will also be dangerous in the singles in Abu Dhabi. The former world No.2 has a French Open title to her name and will offer a strong challenge in the UAE capital.

With the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open roadshow taking over the capital, fans can look forward to the roadshow’s arrival in Zayed Sports City for an interactive fan village across the tournament. Young fans can look forward to exclusive Kids Days, bringing engaging tennis activities, fitness sessions and surprise player appearances from the stars of the WTA tour to the village.

Alongside the introduction of the first ever WTA women’s sanctioned event to the capital, panels led by the Fatima Bin Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy featuring appearances from the Emirati star athletes of the future.