Venus Williams among players confirmed for Dubai Tennis Championships

Roger Federer also expected to return to the Emirates to defend his title.

Venus Williams beat Alize Cornet 6-3, 6-0 to win last year’s Dubai Tennis Championships. Marwan Naamani / AFP

Organisers of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, which take place at the Dubai Tennis Stadium next month, on Thursday announced some of the women’s players expected to be in action.

The event

The women’s WTA tournament takes place first between February 15 and 21, with the men’s ATP event taking place from February 23 to 28.

Defending champions

Tournament organisers yesterday confirmed that reigning women’s champion Venus Williams, who beat Alize Cornet 6-3, 6-0 in last year’s final, will be back to defend her crown. They also expect men’s champion Roger Federer to return to fight for a seventh Dubai title. Organisers say they are expecting world No 1 Novak Djokovic to be part of the field.

Women’s field

Eight of the top 10 have been confirmed for the Dubai draw, led by world No 1 Serena Williams, who has never won in Dubai. Also coming is Simona Halep (world No 3), Petra Kvitova (4), Agnieszka Radwanska (5), Ana Ivanovic (7), Caroline Wozniacki (8) and Angelique Kerber (9).

Confident

Salah Tahlak, the tournament director, is confident the tournament held at the Dubai Tennis Stadium in Garhoud will be a success. “This tournament is eagerly awaited by players and fans alike, and the line-up this year is really fantastic. We look forward to providing some unforgettable tennis action.”

Tickets

Tickets for the event will go on sale on January 19 at the Dubai Tennis Stadium, which opens from 9am to 9pm daily. Grandstand tickets can also be bought online at www.timeouttickets.com. For more details, visit www.dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com.

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