Tennis Stars Set to Shine at Dubai Championships Day 1

Dubai, United Arab Emirates — The 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships, a major WTA 1000 event, kicks off on Sunday, February 16, featuring a slate of 12 singles matches and six doubles matches at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre. This year’s event will highlight some of the biggest names in women’s tennis as they aim to make their mark in the Middle East.

Among the top players competing is Paula Badosa, ranked 10th in the world, who will face off against 43rd-ranked Lulu Sun in a highly anticipated first-round match. This tournament follows Badosa’s recent struggles, as she seeks to rebound from earlier disappointing performances, including early exits at the Abu Dhabi Open and Qatar Open.

The defending champion, Amanda Anisimova, who achieved the biggest title of her career by winning the Qatar Open on February 15 against Jelena Ostapenko, will not take the court as she is not part of the draw. Anisimova’s victory has set high expectations for the competition ahead. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, who were eliminated in Doha last week, are aiming for a fresh start as they look to regain their form.

The opening day will also feature matchups highlighting other seeded contenders, including Donna Vekic, who faces off against Sofia Kenin. Additionally, Elina Svitolina will take on the 15th seed Anna Kalinskaya in another exciting clash. Fan favorites such as Leylah Fernandez and Belinda Bencic will also seek to advance in the draw.

In an analysis of Badosa’s upcoming match, recent performances have shown a decline in her form. “After a strong showing in the semifinals of the Australian Open, her results have not mirrored that success,” noted an analyst. “This match against Sun presents a crucial opportunity for her to find her rhythm again.”

Sun, however, has had a challenging start to her season with a 1-7 record. Despite her struggles following her quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon last year, she is expected to rise to the occasion against Badosa under the Dubai sun.

In addition, another captivating matchup features Belinda Bencic, who is favored against Aoi Ito. Bencic’s previous title at the Dubai Championships in 2019 adds to her motivation as she battles Ito, seeking another milestone in her career.

Fans around the world will be able to catch the action live with matches starting at 12:30 PM local time (3:30 AM EST) on various networks, including Tennis Channel in the USA, DAZN in Canada, and Sky Sports in the UK. This event is poised to deliver thrilling tennis as top athletes clash in Dubai.