In Dubai, I feel like I am playing on my home turf

Kazakhstani Elena Rybakina, ranked third in the world, who was crowned last month with the Australian Open title, expressed her happiness at returning again to the “Dubai Tennis” tournament for professional players, and her endeavor to raise “Dallah Dubai” and join the golden list of crowned champions.

Tomorrow, Rybakina will launch her career in the “Dubai Tennis Championship” for professional women’s players, which began its 26th edition yesterday at the “Dubai Duty Free” courts with a total of $4.08 million in prizes, and is classified in the 1000 points category, amid ambitions for the Kazakh star to embrace her first title in Dubai, after her first attempt in the 2020 edition during which she settled for second place.

Yesterday, Rybakina said during the press conferences of major stars: “I really love Dubai. I was training and making my preparations for the 2026 season on these stadiums, and those concerned here are always renewing their floors, and everything here is familiar to me, and it is good for me to play here. I love this tournament, and I love the atmosphere that accompanies it.”

She explained: “I feel like I am playing on my home soil, and this is always a wonderful thing. Today was my first training after the Doha Championship, and I am looking forward to my first match.”

She added: “My time is generally busy in Dubai, and I have not yet had the opportunity to see the new stadium and the improvements that have been made to Stadium No. 1. It was wonderful, immediately after the completion of the Doha competitions, to return home here again, and there are some things to do, and many places designated for activities.”

Regarding the busy schedule of tournaments that she played in 2026, and approaching the top of the world rankings, Rybakina said: “I did not have enough time to celebrate after winning the Australian Open championship, as I returned home and had a mild cold that kept me in bed for several days, then I went directly to Doha, and today I return again to Dubai to participate in its tournament.”

She concluded: “Certainly my goal is to strive for the top of the world rankings, but it depends on the performance of the other players and the expected results. The season is very long, and I know that there is no room for stopping, and I must always improve my performance daily. We have many tournaments, and we as players must continue to strive and develop.”

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“Lucky loser” challenges Rybakina

World number 96, Australian Kimberly Birrell, who participated on the “lucky loser” card, set up a match tomorrow with the first seed in the tournament and third seed in the world, Kazakhstani Elena Rybakina, in a meeting that brings them together at the opening of the second round of the “Dubai Tennis Championship” for professional women players.

Beryl’s qualification came after her success, yesterday, in overcoming the hurdle of the German world number 54, Tatiana Maria, and winning over her in two sets to one (6-4, 3-6, 7-5), in a match held on subcourt No. 2, which lasted two hours and 45 minutes.

Kimberly benefited from the tournament system by obtaining the “lucky loser” card, which is given to the player who presented good results and did not succeed in passing the preliminary rounds, before she had the opportunity to enter the main round to replace one of the players who withdrew, especially since the current version witnessed the first and second seeds in the world, the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka and the Polish Iga Szwientek, announcing their withdrawal hours before the start of the official draw.

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Andreeva: I love “Dubai Tennis”

The Russian, Mira Andreeva, confirmed her endeavor to defend the title she won last year in the Dubai Tennis Championship for professional players, despite the difficulty of the task, in light of the presence of the world’s top ranked women.

Andreeva said, in press statements: “I am very excited to play in front of the Dubai fans. I love this tournament and I have wonderful memories from last year, after she won the title and achieved the achievement of the youngest player in the history of tennis to win a 1,000-point tournament.”

She explained: “I am impatiently waiting to play my first match, and I will do my best to defend the title. It is the first time in my career that I participate in a tournament in which I defend my title, and this is a positive thing for me.”

She added: “I was not successful in the Doha tournament, even though I played good matches, and I must now focus on my matches in Dubai.”