Top seed Simona Halep could face a tough quarter-final challenge at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after the draw was made on Saturday.
The world number three could meet Australian Open semi-finalist Ekaterina Makarova or the newest member of the top 10, Andrea Petkovic, who are scheduled to clash in the third round.
Arguably the best potential match-up could be between two former Dubai champions if second seed Petra Kvitova and fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska can come through their early challenges.
The top eight seeds receive a bye into the second round, when Halep will face former top five player Daniela Hantuchova or Mona Barthel.
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Kvitova opens her tournament against Elina Svitolina or emerging American CoCo Vandeweghe. Third seeded Caroline Wozniacki will face a qualifier or former US Open champion Samantha Stosur, and fourth seed Ana Ivanovic takes on former Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki or Monica Niculescu.
Radwanska will play either a qualifier or Caroline Garcia in her opening match, and Makarova also faces a qualifier or recent Hobart winner Heather Watson.
Angelique Kerber, seeded seven, faces a tough second round against either former two-time Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova or former Dubai semi-finalist Kaia Kanepi.
Defending champion Venus Williams will play Belinda Bencic or Karin Knapp.
"It is disappointing that Serena Williams has had to withdraw as she has been unable to recover from the illness that clearly affected her at the Australian Open, and that Eugenie Bouchard has had to postpone her debut here due to an arm injury, but once again we are delighted to still be able to welcome to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships many of the very best players in the world," said Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free, the tournament owners and organisers.
“Venus Williams thrilled us all in 2014 when she claimed her third title here, and since then she has gone from strength to strength. Just last month she enjoyed her best result at a Grand Slam in five years when she reached the quarter-finals at the Australian Open and she is now at her highest ranking in nearly four years, and it would be no surprise at all if she can repeat what she did in 2010 and successfully defend her title.”
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships WTA event takes place between February 15 and 21.
Play then continues between February 23 and 28 with the ATP tournament which stars world No 1 Novak Djokovic, defending Dubai champion Roger Federer, Australian Open runner-up Andy Murray and two-time Dubai finalist Tomas Berdych.
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free, and held under the patronage of H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Tickets for the event are available from the Box Office at the Dubai Tennis Stadium, Garhoud which opens from 9am to 9pm daily. Tickets are still available for every day of the women's week, and start at just 75dhs for the first three days of play, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Tickets are also still available for the first three days of the men's week. For further information about tickets, prices and the tournament visit www.dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com.
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