Elena Rybakina gets toughest path possible as top seed at Abu Dhabi Open as Middle East grind begins

With the Abu Dhabi Open kicking off this week in the United Arab Emirates, top seed Elena Rybakina might have her work cut out for her if she intends on clinching the prestigious title.

The former Wimbledon champion suffered an early exit at the 2024 Australian Open, where she fell to unseeded Russian Anna Blinkova in the second round. The duo made history during that encounter, with Blinkova prevailing in the third set after they battled each other in the longest tiebreak in Australian Open history.

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Rybakina could face a Grand Slam champion or runner-up in each round

The World No.5 has a bye in the first round in Abu Dhabi, by virtue of being the top seed. However, her campaign begins in the second round, where she will face the winner between four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka and former Australian Open runner-up Danielle Collins. Should Rybakina prevail, she could face fifth seed and 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the quarterfinal.

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Rybakina is projected to again face another former Grand Slam champion in the semifinals, with 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova waiting in the wings. A date with three-time Grand Slam runner-up Ons Jabeur awaits Rybakina in the final, with the Tunisian star hoping to get revenge after falling to Rybakina in the 2022 Wimbledon final.