WTA PREVIEW | 2024 Abu Dhabi Open as Elena RYBAKINA, Emma RADUCANU, Naomi OSAKA and Ons JABEUR headline Middle East opener

The 2024 Abu Dhabi Open will take place between February 5-11 and will see some top names battle it out for glory at this WTA 500 which acts as a pre-cursor for a busy month ahead which sees Doha and Dubai over the next two weeks followed by Indian Wells and Miami in March.

Elena Rybakina will lead the way when it comes to the draw and as of writing will play all three tournaments over the course of the three week span. Our preview looks ahead to the main talking points as a new champion will also be crowned with Belinda Bencic out of action due to pregnancy.

After winning Brisbane, the tennis world had their eyes on Elena Rybakina. But perhaps playing multiple tournaments in the space of a month wasn't the best idea and the proof will soon be in the pudding during the Middle Eastern swing as she attempts that again.

Having reached the final of the Australian Open last year and having to defend that, she will also defend a good run during the Sunshine Double next month having won Indian Wells last year so will hope to pick up at least one title to soften that blow. She is joined by Ons Jabeur who as ever during this swing is heralded due to be a trailblazer for the sport in her home country of Tunisia and the Gulf region and will even play doubles with Naomi Osaka. Maria Sakkari will also be involved aiming to put the disappointment of the Australian Open behind her. She could face Caroline Garcia, another player aiming to bounce back in the second round. So like Guadalajara last season, the tournament could open up for the victor.

Also involved are two comeback queens in Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu. Both returned during the Australian Open swing after pregnancy and injury respectively. But it hasn't massively gone well for returnees so far.

Caroline Wozniacki played well during the back end of last year, but banked on a good run in Australia in order to not have to play the Middle Eastern swing. She was having to rethink that, but has not entered any tournaments. Angelique Kerber played in Linz last week and lost to Lucia Bronzetti straight away. While Osaka has received rough draws.

Osaka continues to have harsh luck as is owed to her wildcard status. She will face a qualifier then likely Elena Rybakina, the top seed in the second round. She has lost to Karolina Pliskova and Caroline Garcia so far on her return in Brisbane and Melbourne, but this would be the toughest test and a big gauge as to where her game is currently at. Raducanu could feasibly face Ons Jabeur, but her first round is tough enough against Marie Bouzkova. She lost to Wafan Yang at the Australian Open in the part of the draw that unlocked for Qinwen Zheng, the eventual finalist and suffered with sickness. But she is likely best placed of the returnees showing some superb tennis in spells during her return to the court so far.