Australian Open champion Rybakina leads elite field at Dubai Tennis Championships homecoming

DUBAI: 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.

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Elena Rybakina, 26, having dethroned defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on Saturday, returns on Feb. 15 to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, a tournament that is increasingly special to the Russian.

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.

All eight Australian Open quarterfinalists are confirmed to compete in the emirates’ 26th WTA event, bringing with them the rivalries, storylines, and form that defined the season’s first major.