Elena Rybakina gets toughest path possible as top seed at Abu Dhabi Open as Middle East grind begins
WTATuesday, 06 February 2024 at 08:00
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.
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.
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.
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- Players need to STOP TRYING TO JUSTIFY THEIR INCLUSION! They are not ambassadors for women in Saudi Arabia, they are not politicians, and they will never make a difference for females in that 'culture'. This little tennis "tournament" changes nothing. Players were lured by the money, opted to participate, and should just keep their predictable excuses and Women's Freedom Fairy Tales to themselves. Period. Like most things in Life -- one cannot make an argument relating to the Saudi Regime and, at the same time, triple your bank account with their "gifts".
mandoist03-11-2024 - Players need to STOP TRYING TO JUSTIFY THEIR INCLUSION! They are not ambassadors for women in Saudi Arabia, they are not politicians, and they will never make a difference for females in that 'culture'. This little tennis "tournament" changes nothing. Players were lured by the money, opted to participate, and should just keep their predictable excuses and Women's Freedom Fairy Tales to themselves. Period. Like most things in Life -- one cannot make an argument against the Saudi Regime and, at the same time, triple your bank account with their "gifts".mandoist03-11-2024
- Bring 'm on already! Cannot wait.MrAndreeva29-10-2024
- First of all, there is only one laughing emoji in her Insta story and not “several”. Also, you may want to check recent articles which has paparazzi photos of her driving a Porsche🤣Lyca29-10-2024
- Just give her some time to develop without constant scrutinyLyca27-10-2024
