Caroline Garcia (France x19): Once touted as a future world No 1 by Andy Murray, Garcia reached as high as No 4 in September last year. Now down at No 19 after failing to defend a mass of points she earned during a stunning late run in 2017, Garcia is expected to climb back up the rankings in the coming weeks. The 25-year-old from France has a decent record in Dubai, having reached the 2016 semi-finals, and she arrives at this year’s tournament after encouraging wins in the Fed Cup.
Naomi Osaka (Japan x1): It’s been a special few months for the Japanese 21-year-old, following up her breakthrough US Open triumph with the Australian Open title in January. Now the world No 1 and tennis’ newest superstar, Osaka has become the hunted. A quarter-finalist last year, Osaka will have plenty of fans in Dubai and will be one of the favourites for the title. EPA
Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic x2): Had last month’s thrilling Australian Open final gone her way, it would be Kvitova heading this list as the world No 1. No matter, the 28-year-old Czech has enjoyed a remarkable return since suffering career-threatening injuries sustained in a knife attack at her home in December 2016. The two-time Wimbledon champion won this tournament in 2013, and given her fine form, will again be a serious contender this year. EPA
Simona Halep (Romania x3): Her consecutive 48-week run as world No 1 came to an end last month, but the 27-year-old Romanian remains among the very best players in the world. Halep ended her agonizing wait for a grand slam title at the French Open last season. The 2015 Dubai champion has started this season well having recovered from a back injury, and given her past success here, will be confident of a second title. Reuters
Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic x5): Another former world No 1, Pliskova returns to Dubai on the back of a fine start to 2019, having collected the Brisbane title before reaching the Australian Open semi-finals. Made the Dubai final in 2015, losing to Halep, but results in subsequent years have not been great. However, Pliskova, 26, is playing well and there would be few surprises if she went all the way. AFP
Angelique Kerber (Germany x6): Last season was somewhat of a revival for the 31-year-old German, who endured a curious slump in 2017 after a stunning 2016. A welcome return to the upper echelons thanks in no small part to her Wimbledon triumph – her third grand slam title. Kerber has a solid recent record in Dubai, reaching the semi-finals the past two years before losing to eventual champion Elina Svitolina both times. Another player more than capable of claiming the title. Getty Images
Elina Svitolina (Ukraine x7): Dubai has become the Svitolina Invitational the past two years, with the 24-year-old Ukrainian becoming just the third woman to successfully defend the title. She enters the 2019 tournament in good form after reaching the Australian Open quarter-finals where she lost to Osaka. Clearly at home on the Dubai courts, Svitolina has every chance of joining Venus Williams as a three-time winner while moving to one behind former coach Justine Henin. Reuters
Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus x9): Osaka aside, no young player enjoyed a meteoric rise in 2018 quite like Sabalenka, who started the season ranked No 73 and ended No 12 with her first two WTA titles secured. The 20-year-old Belarusian started this year in style by winning in Shenzhen, although she fell short of expectations at the Australian Open. She does not have much of a record in Dubai, losing in the first round in 2017, before falling in the final round of qualifying last year. Plenty has changed since then, though. Reuters
Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark x10): Since winning her first grand slam title at the Australian Open last year, the 28-year-old Dane has struggled to consistently replicate that form, although she did win two subsequent titles in 2018 at Eastbourne and Beijing. Regardless of form, Wozniacki remains one of the biggest draws in women’s tennis, and has an enviable record in Dubai. A winner in 2011, Wozniacki also reached the 2017 final and four other semi-finals. Reuters
Garbine Muguruza (Spain x15): In September 2017, Muguruza was a two-time grand slam champion and world No 1 – she looked destined for a prolonged spell at the top. However, 18 months later the 25-year-old Spaniard has fallen behind her rivals and occupies 15th in the rankings. Muguruza did win one title in 2018 – in Monterrey – but given her high standards it was a difficult season. There is no denying her talent, though, and if she can recapture the form that carried her to the Dubai semi-finals in 2015, Muguruza can be a threat. Getty Images
Caroline Garcia (France x19): Once touted as a future world No 1 by Andy Murray, Garcia reached as high as No 4 in September last year. Now down at No 19 after failing to defend a mass of points she earned during a stunning late run in 2017, Garcia is expected to climb back up the rankings in the coming weeks. The 25-year-old from France has a decent record in Dubai, having reached the 2016 semi-finals, and she arrives at this year’s tournament after encouraging wins in the Fed Cup.
Naomi Osaka (Japan x1): It’s been a special few months for the Japanese 21-year-old, following up her breakthrough US Open triumph with the Australian Open title in January. Now the world No 1 and tennis’ newest superstar, Osaka has become the hunted. A quarter-finalist last year, Osaka will have plenty of fans in Dubai and will be one of the favourites for the title. EPA
Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic x2): Had last month’s thrilling Australian Open final gone her way, it would be Kvitova heading this list as the world No 1. No matter, the 28-year-old Czech has enjoyed a remarkable return since suffering career-threatening injuries sustained in a knife attack at her home in December 2016. The two-time Wimbledon champion won this tournament in 2013, and given her fine form, will again be a serious contender this year. EPA
Simona Halep (Romania x3): Her consecutive 48-week run as world No 1 came to an end last month, but the 27-year-old Romanian remains among the very best players in the world. Halep ended her agonizing wait for a grand slam title at the French Open last season. The 2015 Dubai champion has started this season well having recovered from a back injury, and given her past success here, will be confident of a second title. Reuters
Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic x5): Another former world No 1, Pliskova returns to Dubai on the back of a fine start to 2019, having collected the Brisbane title before reaching the Australian Open semi-finals. Made the Dubai final in 2015, losing to Halep, but results in subsequent years have not been great. However, Pliskova, 26, is playing well and there would be few surprises if she went all the way. AFP
Angelique Kerber (Germany x6): Last season was somewhat of a revival for the 31-year-old German, who endured a curious slump in 2017 after a stunning 2016. A welcome return to the upper echelons thanks in no small part to her Wimbledon triumph – her third grand slam title. Kerber has a solid recent record in Dubai, reaching the semi-finals the past two years before losing to eventual champion Elina Svitolina both times. Another player more than capable of claiming the title. Getty Images
Elina Svitolina (Ukraine x7): Dubai has become the Svitolina Invitational the past two years, with the 24-year-old Ukrainian becoming just the third woman to successfully defend the title. She enters the 2019 tournament in good form after reaching the Australian Open quarter-finals where she lost to Osaka. Clearly at home on the Dubai courts, Svitolina has every chance of joining Venus Williams as a three-time winner while moving to one behind former coach Justine Henin. Reuters
Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus x9): Osaka aside, no young player enjoyed a meteoric rise in 2018 quite like Sabalenka, who started the season ranked No 73 and ended No 12 with her first two WTA titles secured. The 20-year-old Belarusian started this year in style by winning in Shenzhen, although she fell short of expectations at the Australian Open. She does not have much of a record in Dubai, losing in the first round in 2017, before falling in the final round of qualifying last year. Plenty has changed since then, though. Reuters
Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark x10): Since winning her first grand slam title at the Australian Open last year, the 28-year-old Dane has struggled to consistently replicate that form, although she did win two subsequent titles in 2018 at Eastbourne and Beijing. Regardless of form, Wozniacki remains one of the biggest draws in women’s tennis, and has an enviable record in Dubai. A winner in 2011, Wozniacki also reached the 2017 final and four other semi-finals. Reuters
Garbine Muguruza (Spain x15): In September 2017, Muguruza was a two-time grand slam champion and world No 1 – she looked destined for a prolonged spell at the top. However, 18 months later the 25-year-old Spaniard has fallen behind her rivals and occupies 15th in the rankings. Muguruza did win one title in 2018 – in Monterrey – but given her high standards it was a difficult season. There is no denying her talent, though, and if she can recapture the form that carried her to the Dubai semi-finals in 2015, Muguruza can be a threat. Getty Images
Caroline Garcia (France x19): Once touted as a future world No 1 by Andy Murray, Garcia reached as high as No 4 in September last year. Now down at No 19 after failing to defend a mass of points she earned during a stunning late run in 2017, Garcia is expected to climb back up the rankings in the coming weeks. The 25-year-old from France has a decent record in Dubai, having reached the 2016 semi-finals, and she arrives at this year’s tournament after encouraging wins in the Fed Cup.
Naomi Osaka, Caroline Wozniacki and Simona Halep among 10 players to watch at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
The 2019 tournament boasts one of its strongest lineups, with 20 of the top 26 players in the world all set to compete
Jon Turner
13 February, 2019
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