Halep, Pliskova feature in action-packed Day 3 of Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

The 2015 champion faces Tunisian wildcard Ons Jabeur, who defeated American Alison Riske in the first round. Having retired against Jabeur due to a back injury in their only previous encounter (Beijing 2018), Halep should be in better shape for this encounter.

Second-seeded Karolina Pliskova meets French qualifier Kristina Mladenovic, with Pliskova taking their last meeting in the first round of the 2020 Australian Open. Although the Czech leads 3-2 in career meetings, it was Mladenovic who won their only encounter in Dubai in 2017, prevailing 6-2 6-4.

After her first round victory against Kim Clijsters, Garbine Muguruza will face qualifier Veronika Kudermetova. The ninth-seeded Spaniard has been playing some of the best tennis of her career lately, and she hopes to continue this trend against the 22-year old Russian.

Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina takes on Czech Katerina Siniakova, with the in-form Rybakina coming off an upset victory over reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the first round.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova was responsible for another upset in the first round, rallying past defending champion Belinda Bencic. She now faces Anett Kontaveit, who defeated Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the first round.

Seventh-seeded Aryna Sabalenka squares off against Belgian Elise Mertens in what should be a big-hitting encounter, while Czech Barbora Strycova tries to keep her momentum going against eighth-seeded Petra Martic.

American Jennifer Brady shocked third-seeded Elina Svitolina in the opening round, and she now faces Czech Marketa Vondrousova for a spot in the quarterfinals.