Dubai: No fewer than four past winners of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships will be bidding to regain or retain the crown when play gets under way in the WTA Premier 5 event at the Dubai Tennis Stadium on February 15.
One of the strongest fields ever assembled is packed with players who are no strangers to the winner’s rostrum, and that includes a fantastic foursome who have triumphed not only in Dubai but around the world.
Defending champion Venus Williams has lifted the trophy on three occasions, first claiming the title in 2009 with a run that included victory over world number four Elena Dementieva, followed by a semi-final win over sister Serena and then sweeping aside Victoria Azarenka in the final.
Last year she became the first wild card and first unseeded player in the history of the women’s event to win the title, overcoming former world number one Ana Ivanovic and 2011 Dubai winner Caroline Wozniacki along the way.
Wozniacki won the 2011 title by not giving up a set all week as she climaxed her run with victory over former French and US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova. Since that triumph, she has continued to excel, reaching the semi-finals three straight times and twice losing only to the eventual champion.
In 2012 the title went to Agnieszka Radwanska, who took full advantage of not having to face a top 10 opponent all week as she worked her way to a final showdown with the 19th-ranked Julia Goerges. After reaching the quarter-finals the following year, falling to eventual champion Petra Kvitova, Radwanska will be hoping to make up for her disappointing performance last season, when she surrendered a 4-1 lead on her way to defeat against qualifier Flavia Pennetta.
Kvitova reversed her dismal Dubai record in spectacular fashion in 2013. Having lost to qualifiers ranked far below her the previous two years, she made it third time lucky as she dismissed former winners Wozniacki and Radwanska in straight sets before beating Sara Errani in a three-set final.
Last year, though, Kvitova suffered another disappointing opening match exit at the hands of Carla Suarez Navarro.
“The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships has consistently attracted the best players in the world, and it takes an enormous effort to overcome such a talented field and win the title,” said Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman, Dubai Duty Free, the tournament owners and organisers.
Tournament Director Salah Tahlak added: “All four champions will without doubt be very strong contenders for the title once again, but they face some formidable opposition in world number one Serena Williams and French Open and WTA Finals runner-up Simona Halep, as well as US and Australian Open semi-finalist Ekaterina Makarova, recent Brisbane finalist Ana Ivanovic and 2015 Sydney semi-finalist Angelique Kerber.”
Tickets for the event are available from the box office at the Dubai Tennis Stadium, which is open daily from 9am to 9pm. Tickets can also be bought online at www.timeouttickets.com
