The draw for the WTA1000 Dubai tournament has been announced, and Zheng Qinwen will face off against Jabeur once again.
This afternoon Beijing time, the highly anticipated WTA1000 Dubai tournament officially unveiled its women's singles draw. As the second high-profile event of the Middle East season, the Dubai Open boasts a total prize pool of up to $3.655 million, with the main draw set to begin tomorrow. On the Chinese side, players Zheng Qinwen and Wang Xinyu earned direct entry into the main draw based on their rankings.
Upper bracket: A gathering of powerhouses, with potential matchups that promise to be thrilling and gripping.
The top half of the draw is anchored by world No. 1 Sabalenka, along with Gauff, Pegula, and Navarro. As the No. 1 seed, Sabalenka receives a first-round bye, meaning her likely second-round opponent will almost certainly be Alexandrova. Notably, at the Doha tournament, Sabalenka was eliminated in her opening match by Alexandrova—so if the two meet again this time around, Sabalenka will undoubtedly go all out for revenge. This potential showdown promises to be nothing short of electrifying!
As the No. 3 seed, Gauff received a first-round bye, meaning her opening match will be against either her fellow countrywoman Kessler or Anisimova. Anisimova has been in scorching form, having already reached the women’s singles final at the Doha tournament. Their matchup promises to be a thrilling clash of power and precision.
Pegula, seeded No. 5 and receiving a first-round bye, faces a challenging path ahead. Pavlyuchenkova and Noskova both stand as potential opponents on her journey to advancement. Meanwhile, Navarro, the No. 8 seed who also gets a first-round bye, is eager to deliver a strong performance at this tournament and prove her competitive edge.
Raducanu, who earned a wildcard entry, will face Greek star Sakari in the first round—though Raducanu currently leads their head-to-head record 2-0. Still, tennis matches are full of surprises, and Sakari will undoubtedly be eager to turn the tables. If Raducanu advances, she could potentially clash with No. 14 seed Muchova in the second round, presenting an increasingly tough challenge for the young Brit as each match pushes her to her limits.
Lower half: Competition is fierce, and Zheng Qinwen has drawn a tough bracket.
The bottom half of the draw is headlined by Swiatek, Rybakina, Paolini, and Zheng Qinwen. As the No. 7 seed, Zheng Qinwen receives a first-round bye. In the second round, she’ll face the winner between Jabeur and Stephens. Earlier this week at the WTA 1000 event in Doha, Zheng Qinwen was stunned in straight sets by Jabeur during their second-round clash—meaning if they meet again, Zheng will undoubtedly be eager for revenge. From a technical standpoint, Jabeur tends to play a more solid, steady game, while Zheng Qinwen excels with her powerful, aggressive style. The key to this matchup will be whether Zheng can stay mentally focused and effectively leverage her own strengths on the court.
If Zheng Qinwen advances smoothly to the third round, her opponent will very likely be the No. 12 seed, Andreeva. The two players have faced each other twice before, with their head-to-head record currently tied at 1-1. Their most recent encounter came in the semifinals of the 2024 China Open, where Zheng Qinwen staged a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Andreeva. As long as Zheng Qinwen maintains her consistent performance, she’ll still have a strong chance of defeating her opponent and moving forward.
If Zheng Qinwen reaches the quarterfinals, she’ll face No. 2 seed Iga Świątek. Świątek has been in scorching form since the start of the 2025 season, reaching the semifinals at both the Australian Open and the Doha tournament. Although Zheng Qinwen defeated Świątek at the 2024 Paris Olympics, her own form this season has been somewhat inconsistent. Facing Świątek again on the court will likely present significant challenges for Zheng. Still, given that Zheng has previously beaten her opponent before, she’s not entirely without a chance—after all, past experience can sometimes turn the tide.
Looking at the other players, defending champion Paolini has drawn a favorable draw. Her first opponent will emerge from among two qualifying-round players, while her potential third-round matchup is likely to be between Vekic, Kenin, and Kostyuk. Last year, Paolini triumphed here, and this year she’s determined to build on that success by defending her championship points.
Lebapina's draw is fairly average—her first opponent will likely be Ostapenko, who’s been in sensational form this week, while her next potential opponent is Badosa, whose game has clearly been on the rise. Both of these rivals are incredibly strong, so if Lebapina wants to advance smoothly, she’ll need to stay fully focused in every match.
Swiatek, who failed to defend her title in Doha, will face either Azarenka or Kalinina in her opening match in Dubai—meaning she likely won’t encounter much of a challenge in the first three rounds. As one of women’s tennis’ top players, Swiatek’s clear goal is to lift the trophy, and based on the draw, she has an excellent chance to advance smoothly into the deeper stages of the tournament.
Wang Xinyu will face qualifier Parks in the first round, and her second-round match will be against the winner of the clash between No. 10 seed Kasatkina and wildcard player Kostyia. Wang Xinyu delivered a commendable performance in her previous matches, and this time she’s hoping to make a breakthrough at the Dubai tournament, earning valuable ranking points to help boost her world standing.
Overall, the WTA1000 Dubai women's singles draw is packed with exciting matchups, as top contenders gear up for a fierce battle for the championship. Chinese stars Zheng Qinwen and Wang Xinyu carry high expectations from fans, who are eager to see them deliver their best performances and achieve outstanding results on the court. Let’s all look forward to an unforgettable tennis spectacle!
