The 2021 WTA season is just around the corner and the players are getting ready for some action. The inaugural Abu Dhabi Women’s Tennis Open will be the first event of the season. It starts on January 5th and ends on January 13th. Despite the global pandemic, tennis will resume with all of the health protocols. Here are the biggest names who will play in the Abu Dhabi Women’s Tennis Open in preparation to the Australian Open.
Sofia Kenin
First and foremost, the reigning Australian Open champion, Sofia Kenin, will be playing in this tournament. The young American is opening the campaign in Abu Dhabi and will look to take back her top notch form. She is coming from a great 2020 season in which she conquered her first Grand Slam title and went all they way into the Roland Garros final. For that, she was named the WTA Player of the Year.
Elina Svitolina
The Ukrainian is an incredible tennis player but has yet to win a Grand Slam title. This year, Svitolina will look to change that. This tournament will help her get back on track to her great level of tennis and she will look to win the title in this tournament. Last year she won the Monterrey Open before the lockdown and will try to win another tournament this year.
Karolina Pliskova
Former World No.1 Karolina Pliskova will look to start the season strong and prove to be a threat from the jump. She has a new coach and we will get to see how that will influence her style of game this season. We all know she is incredible player, although she has yet to prove it on a Grand Slam event. No doubt the Czech is a heavy favorite to win this tournament and she will try to start the season on the right foot.
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Aryna Sabalenka
Clearly Sabalenka had a great 2020 as she won the Doha, Linz, and Ostrava Opens. She looked great all year round, although she couldn’t translate this success into the Grand Slams. The Belarussian has plenty of room to grow and this hard court suites her style of play. No doubt she is one of the favorites to win this tour with her heavy hitting style of play.
Other Big Names
The other big names in this tournament include Garbiñe Muguruza, Belinda Bencic, Ons Jabeur, Maria Sakkari, Elise Mertens, Jelena Ostapenko, and Svetlana Kuznetsova. These players are absolutely some big names in a stellar and jam packed tournament. Each player here is used to winning and they will all try to start the season right. Without a doubt each player will give it their all and will perform at the highest level.
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Rising Stars
Among the rising stars competing in Abu Dhabi are Coco Gauff, Marketa Vondrousova, Elena Rybakina, and Nadia Podoroska. Each young player is rising to be one of the best in the world and they will try to prove that in the first tournament of the season.
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Great Tournament Ahead
Due to the global pandemic some health protocols are in place here, and the rest of the tournaments to follow. Nevertheless, it is great to see that tennis will be played and the players can have a warm up tournament leading to the Australian Open. Indeed, it will be a great week in the Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre in Abu Dhabi. This first edition of the tournament will be a great WTA 500 event to start to the season.
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