Australian Open winner Rybakina to lead elite field at Dubai Open

Fresh off the heat and glare of Melbourne, the story of this year’s Australian Open will roll straight from the Rod Laver Arena into Dubai.

Elena Rybakina, this weekend’s Grand Slam winner having dethroned defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on Saturday, will return to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on February 15 to compete in a tournament that is increasingly special to the Kazakhstani.

After adding a second Grand Slam win to her 2022 Wimbledon title, Rybakina, the new World No. 3, returns to Dubai not only as a former finalist but as a resident of the city since 2024. As such, her presence would be compelling on its own yet this year, the narrative runs deeper.

In a cute convergence, all eight Australian Open quarter-finalists are confirmed to compete in Dubai, bringing with them the rivalries, storylines, and form that defined the season’s first major.

The ‘Down Under’ drama that captivated the tennis world over the past two weeks will be back on court within a fortnight – this time at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, transforming the emirate’s 26th WTA event into a true showcase of the women’s game at its highest level.

“Congratulations to Elena, who we are delighted is returning to Dubai this month,” said Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free and Chairman of the Organising Committee. “The participation of the entire top 20 so soon after Melbourne gives fans a chance to see the sport’s biggest names together in one place. For the players, we provide another proving ground and an immediate chance to test themselves on a hard court against the very best once again.”

Rybakina’s title run in Australia showcased her complete arsenal: Thunderous serving, flat baseline power, and icy composure when the stakes were highest.

Leaving Australia having matched her career-high ranking of World No3, the 26-year-old arrives back to her ‘second home’ as one of the most talked-about figures on WTA Tour.

“I would like to send huge congratulations to Elena on behalf of everyone at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships,” said Salah Tahlak, Tournament Director and Deputy Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free.

“She has competed at our tournament in Dubai five times in the past six years, reaching the final on her debut in 2020 and progressing to the semi-finals last year. As a Dubai resident, she always enjoys a lot of ‘home’ support here and I’m sure that will only grow after this past weekend’s fantastic victory. We look forward to welcoming her back.”

The depth of this year’s championships is underlined by the presence of all eight quarter-finalists, including World No. 1 Sabalenka, six-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek, World No. 4 Amanda Anisimova, American pair Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula – ranked No. 5 and No. 6 in the world respectively, two-time Dubai champion Elina Svitolina, and 18-year-old starlet Iva Jovic.

With defending champion Mirra Andreeva adding a compelling storyline of her own and elite challengers such as 2024 winner Jasmine Paolini, Canadian breakout Victoria Mboko, and 2019 winner Belinda Bencic all deepening the draw, fans can expect high-calibre contests throughout WTA week, which runs from February 15–21, followed by the ATP 500 men’s tournament from February 23–28. Tickets are on sale now, with prices starting from Dh65 at dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com or ticketmaster.ae.

The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free and held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.