The main
draw for the WTA Abu Dhabi Open has been confirmed amid the Middle East swing.
The WTA 500 tournament will feature the 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina
(No. 4) as the top seed, alongside fellow top-10 players Ons Jabeur (No. 6) and
Maria Sakkari (No. 9).
The
tournament will take place from February 5 to 11 and will serve as a prelude to
the upcoming WTA 1000 Doha Open and Dubai Open. The top eight seeds are all
within the top 15, promising exciting matchups from the first round onward.
The draw
will include two special invitees: 4-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka and
the 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu. Both players are aiming to climb the
WTA rankings after extended absences in 2023. Osaka will also participate in
the doubles draw alongside Tunisian player Ons Jabeur.
Other
former Grand Slam champions in the main draw include Barbora Krejcikova (No.
12) and Jelena Ostapenko (No. 11). They join seeded players Daria Kasatkina
(No. 14), Beatriz Haddad Maia (No. 13), and Ludmila Samsonova (No. 15).
The notable
absence will be the 2023 champion Belinda Bencic, who will miss the entire 2024
season due to pregnancy. Two more former Grand Slam champions, Sofia Kenin and
Sloane Stephens, will have to fight through the qualifying rounds as they did
not qualify directly.
Viewers
worldwide can catch the tournament action with the best players starting from
February 5 through the following television broadcasts:
Sky Sports - United Kingdom
beIN SPORTS - Australia & France
Tennis Channel - USA, Puerto Rico, Germany, Austria, Switzerland & Netherlands
TVA - Canada
Supertennis - Italy, San Marino & Vatican City
Canal+ - Poland
ESPN / Star Plus - Latin America
Sportsmax - Caribbean
Telia - Estonia
TV2 - Denmark
DigiSport - Romania
Eleven Sports - Portugal
Match4 - Hungary
O2 - Czech Republic
Playsports/Telenet - Belgium
PragoSports/RTVS - Slovakia
Setanta - Baltics, CIS & Ukraine
Sportklub - Balkans
DAZN - Spain & Japan
TapDMV - Philippines
Astro - Malaysia & Brunei
NOW TV - Hong Kong
Reddentes Sports/Champions TV/Emtek - Indonesia
Spark - New Zealand
Sportcast - Chinese Taipei
Starhub - Singapore
Truevisions - Thailand
Live streaming will also be available on WTA TV.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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