Swiatek, Sabalenka, Rybakina Headline WTA Dubai 1000

The first 1000 level event of 2023 on either tour will be held this week in Dubai where the women will come together in a blockbuster field.

The 64-draw features 14 of the Top 15 players missing only Ons Jabeur who underwent surgery on her knee.

Doha champion Iga Swiatek returns after missing last year. She is joined by Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka and finalist Elena Rybakina.

Here are the Top 16 seeds: 1 Iga Swiatek, 2 Aryna Sabalenka, 3 Jessica Pegula, 4 Caroline Garcia, 5 Coco Gauff, 6 Maria Sakkari, 7 Daria Kasatkina, 8 Belinda Bencic, 9 Elena Rybakina, 10 Veronika Kudermetova, 11 Beatriz Haddad Maia, 12 Petra Kvitova, 13 Jelena Ostapenko, 14 Liudmila Samsonova, 15 Victoria Azarenka, 16 Ekaterina Alexandrova.

No. 1 Swiatek is projected to meet 6 Sakkari in the quarters, No. 4 Garcia – 5 Gauff, No. 8 Bencic – 3 Pegula, and 7 seed Kasatkina – 2 Sabalenka in the bottom quarter.

The projected round of 16 looks like: No. 1 Swiatek – 14 Samsonova, No. 10 Kudermetova – 6 Sakkari, No. 4 Garcia – 15 Azarenka, and 9 seed Rybakina – 5 Gauff in the top half.

Bottom half 16s: No. 8 Bencic – 11 Haddad Maia, No. 16 Alexandrova – 3 Pegula, No. 7 Kasatkina – 12 Kvitova, and 13 seed Ostapenko – 2 Sabalenka.

The semifinals could see Iga Swiatek-Caroline Garcia and Jessica Pegula-Aryna Sabalenka.

The top seeded Swiatek opens with a bye then gets the winner of Julia Grabher-Leylah Fernandez which is being played Sunday.

The second seeded Sabalenka also opens with a bye then gets the winner of Jil Teichmann-Anastasia Potapova.

Ostapenka will open her title defense against qualifier Katarina Zavatska.

The Top 8 seeds all received a bye.

Among the notable first round matches: Paula Badosa-Liudmila Samsonova, Amanda Anisimova-Vera Zvonareva, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova-Victoria Azarenka, Elena Rybkina-Bianca Andreescu and Martina Trevisan-Petra Kvitova.

Already on Sunday, former champion Kvitova, Madison Keys, Samsonova, Anismova and teen Linda Fruhvirtova have won first round matches.

Former champions in the field: Bencic, Kvitova and defending champion Ostapenko.
Former finalists: Kudermetova, Cornet, Pliskova, Azarenka, Rybakina, Kasatkina, Krejcikova.

Last year, Jelena Ostapenko defeated Veronika Kudermetova 6-0 6-4.

LAST 10 DUBAI FINALS:
2022 Jelena Ostapenko d Veronika Kudermetova 6-0 6…
2021 Garbine Muguruza d Barbora Krejcikova 7-6(6) …
2020 Simona Halep d Elena Rybakina 3-6 6-3 7-6(5)
2019 Belinda Bencic d Petra Kvitova 6-3 1-6 6-2
2018 Elina Svitolina d Daria Kasatkina 6-4 6-0
2017 Elina Svitolina d Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-2
2016 Sara Errani d Barbora Strycova 6-0 6-2
2015 Simona Halep d Karolina Pliskova 6-4 7-6(4)
2014 Venus Williams d Alize Cornet 6-3 6-0
2013 Petra Kvitova d Sara Errani 6-2 1-6 6-1

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