Top seed Svitolina set to face Kuznetsova
Tough opener for Ukrainian as she goes for third title at DDFTC
Top seed Elina Svitolina could begin her bid for a third Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (DDFTC) crown against two-time Grand Slam winner and three-time Dubai finalist Svetlana Kuznetsova as play gets under way at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Garhoud this week.
The 2017 and 2018 champion receives a first-round bye, and will then face either Kuznetsova or Qiang Wang. And should she progress to the quarterfinals, Svitolina could then find 2019 winner and No. 6 seed Belinda Bencic in her path.
“It is clear that there will be many intriguing matches during the coming week, not least in the early rounds,” said Colm McLoughlin, Executive ViceChairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free. “We welcome the players and officials and look forward to seeing so many of the world’s top players entertain us.”
Much local interest will centre around Ons Jabeur, who has demonstrated that she can challenge the very best as she continues to be a trailblazer for Arab women.
Intriguing matches
With the top eight seeds receiving first-round byes, it is in the next round some intriguing clashes may occur. The most interesting is between seventh seed and 2020 US Open finalist Victoria Azarenka and threetime Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber, although Kerber has to first overcome Caroline Garcia.
A mouth-watering thirdround clash could take place between reigning French Open champion and No. 8 seed Iga Swiatek and former Wimbledon and French Open winner Garbine Muguruza, while another third-round battle could see fourth seed, two-time Wimbledon winner and former Dubai champion Petra Kvitova play 2020 Dubai runner-up Elena Rybakina.
And much local interest will deservedly centre around Ons Jabeur, who has demonstrated that she can challenge the very best as she continues to be a trailblazer for Arab women. She also is in the section of the draw that includes Kvitova, Bertens, Rybakina Vondrousova and Gauff, and starts against Katerina Siniakova.
“We are happy to award wild cards this week to Coco Gauff, Timea Babos and Anastasia Potapova,” said Tournament Director Salah Tahlak.