Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, 2020 - WTA Premier

[tented]

DATE: February 17 - 22, 2020
SURFACE: Hard
FINANCIAL COMMITMENT: $782,900
SINGLES DRAW SIZE: 32
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Belinda Bencic

Seeds:

1. Simona Halep
2. Karolina Pliskova
3. Elina Svitolina
4. Belinda Bencic
5. Sofia Kenin
6. Kiki Bertens
7. Aryna Sabalenka
8. Petra Martic

The Tournament:

The tournament is staged at the picturesque Aviation Club, which features the immensely popular Irish Village pub and an extensive range of recreational and entertainment facilities including a gym and spa. The Dubai Tennis Stadium also serves as a leading concert venue.

Justine Henin has the tournament record with four titles followed by Venus Williams with three. Other former champions include WTA superstars Lindsay Davenport, Elena Dementieva, Martina Hingis, Petra Kvitova, Amelie Mauresmo and Caroline Wozniacki. Liezel Huber has the most doubles titles in Dubai history with five. Naomi Osaka heads the field at the 2019 event.

About Dubai:
Dubai is a city in the United Arab Emirates known for luxury shopping, ultramodern architecture and a lively nightlife scene. Burj Khalifa, an 830m-tall tower, dominates the skyscraper-filled skyline.

At its foot lies Dubai Fountain, with jets and lights choreographed to music. On man-made islands just offshore is Atlantis, the Palm, a resort with water and marine-animal parks.

Tourism Guide:




TV Coverage:

Australia - beIN
Austria - DAZN
Belarus - Belarus TV
Belgium - beIN
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia - IKO SportKlub
Bulgaria - Bulsat
Canada - TVA Sports, DAZN
Caribbean - SportsMax
China - iQIYI
Chinese Taipei - Sportcast
Czech Republic - O2 Czech Sports
Denmark - TV2
Estonia - Telia
Finland - NENT
France - beIN
Germany - DAZN
Greece - Cosmote TV
Hong Kong - Now TV
Hungary - Digisport
Italy, San Marino & Vatican City - Super Tennis
Japan - DAZN
Latin America - Sony
Latvia - Best4Sport
Malaysia & Brunei - Astro
Middle East & North Africa - beIN
Netherlands - Fox Sports
New Zealand - Spark
Norway - NENT
Poland - TVP Sport
Romania - Digisport
Russia - Match TV
Singapore - Starhub
Slovakia - Digisport
South Korea - Eclat
Switzerland - DAZN
Sweden - NENT
Thailand - Truevision
Turkey - beIN
Ukraine - Match TV, Poverkhnost
UK & Ireland - BT Sport
USA - Tennis Channel
Vietnam - Vietcontent

 

[tented]

The Draw:

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I think it was a wise decision from Kiki Bertens who has withdrawn from the tournament,as she has just won St.Petersburg.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just a reminder,

Coaching from the stands will be allowed on the WTA Tour this season.The trial will begin at Dubai Duty Free Championship and Hungarian Open in February and will be used at all WTA Premier and International events in 2020.

 

[tented]

... and Hungarian Open in February ...

I don’t see this tournament listed on the WTA site. Was it cancelled?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I don’t see this tournament listed on the WTA site. Was it cancelled?

I will double check and get back to you

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just read that the Hungarian Open has been cancelled this year,usually starts 18th February to February 24th,reason being the officials think it is scheduled too close to the Dubai Duty Free Championships.,players chose to play the event in Dubai or try to qualifer for it.

 

[kskate2]

just like Serena, Kim seems a bit heavy to deal w/ the pace of these shots

 

[AnonymousFan]

Not bad, 4-4 2nd set. Second time I’ve seen her doing the splits lol

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Media is all over Kim at the moment lol!

 

[kskate2]

It's gotten tight because Mugu is choking as usual.

 

[kskate2]

Media is all over Kim at the moment lol!

Yeah. Whoever is calling this match are Kimmie fans through and through

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Yeah. Whoever is calling this match are Kimmie fans through and through

Indeed,apparently she can win this year's USO lol!...considering this is her first match back

 

[isabelle]

Mladenovic beat Sasnovich and'll meet Pliskova tomorrow

 

[AnonymousFan]

Pavlyuchenkova def. defending champ Bencic 1-6, 6-1, 6-1

Brady (Q) def. Svitolina 6-2, 6-1

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Pavlyuchenkova def. defending champ Bencic 1-6, 6-1, 6-1

Brady (Q) def. Svitolina 6-2, 6-1

Weird scoreline in the Pavs vs Bencic match,Svitolina has not had a good start to 2020,lost last week as the no 1 seed in Thailand and defeated in her first match in Dubai.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Solid win for Rybakina,who was just in the final at St.Petersburg,defeating Sofia Kenin 67(2) 63 63.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Very tight 3rd set between Ons Jabeur vs Simona Halep,Ons was down 1-4 in the t/break,Ons served for the match at 6-5 but could not convert,Halep converts her 4MP to finally win the match,bit lucky to escape,she moves into the q/finals.
Halep d Jabeur 16 62 76(7).

Ons is a joy to watch,she has soo much variety in her game,she may be a late bloomer,still players come together at their own time and pace.

 

[Hoergren]

Almost a Woz dejavu



Brilliant

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Q/finals,

2.00pm start on centre court,

Elena Rybakina vs Karolina Pliskova (2)

Not before 3.30pm,

(Q) Jennifer Brady vs Garbine Muguruza (9)

Not before 7.00pm,

Petra Martic (8) vs Anett Kontaveit

Simona Halep (1) vs Aryna Sabalenka (7)