Analysis of the WTA Dubai 2025 field. Major threats for Swiatek and Sabalenka

After a week full of surprises in Qatar, the circuit's activity shifts to WTA Dubai 2025, a WTA 1000 event with much more at stake than just the title. The points at stake could be crucial in the WTA Ranking battle between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek in their fight for the number one spot in the world, along with other interesting figures like Emma Raducanu, Elena Rybakina, Paula Badosa, or Jasmine Paolini, the latter being the defending champion.

Main draw analysis of WTA Dubai 2025

1st quadrant

Potential opponents for Aryna Sabalenka: Bye - Ekaterina Alexandrova - Anna Kalinskaya - Jessica Pegula/Linda Noskova - Coco Gauff/Amanda Anisimova - Iga Swiatek/Elena Rybakina

After losing in her debut in Doha against Alexandrova, Aryna has a good chance of facing the Russian again in what will also be the debut of the number one in Dubai. For that to happen, Ekaterina will have to win her first round against a player from the qualifying stage, but it already looks like a tough draw for Sabalenka who will once again confront her biggest nightmares. The third and fourth rounds should not pose too many complications, although in the semifinals, the level will be at its peak for the tournament.

2nd quadrant

Potential opponents for Coco Gauff: Bye - Amanda Anisimova - Karolina Muchova/Emma Raducanu - Emma Navarro/Daria Kasatkina - Aryna Sabalenka - Iga Swiatek/Elena Rybakina

The American also left Doha with a defeat, so she hasn't been able to gain much confidence on hard courts so far. Nevertheless, she starts afresh in Dubai, where she won't have a very pleasant second round. Gauff could face Amanda Anisimova in her debut, who is coming from a final. It could be beneficial for Coco since her opponent won't have much time to rest, although she will surely arrive with great confidence. On the path to the final rounds, she could encounter tough opponents like Muchova, Raducanu, or Kasatkina.

3rd quadrant

Potential opponents for Elena Rybakina: Bye - Jelena Ostapenko - Paula Badosa - Jasmine Paolini/Sofia Kenin - Iga Swiatek - Aryna Sabalenka/Coco Gauff

Rybakina's situation is quite particular. The Kazakh player arrives in Dubai amidst all the controversy surrounding Stefano Vukov, her former coach, although he still accompanies her to certain tournaments. The WTA imposed a one-year suspension on the coach, but he continues to be present in Elena's life. In Doha, she had a good tournament reaching the quarterfinals, where she fell to Swiatek, but here in Dubai, her path won't be easy with names like Jelena Ostapenko, Paula Badosa, or Jasmine Paolini in her quadrant.

4th quadrant

Potential opponents for Iga Swiatek: Bye - Victoria Azarenka/Anhelina Kalinina - Beatriz Haddad Maia - Qinwen Zheng/Mirra Andreeva - Elena Rybakina - Aryna Sabalenka/Coco Gauff

Despite being one of the top favorites for the title, Iga arrives at a time of certain doubts after showing her weaknesses in Doha against Jelena Ostapenko, a match where she lost her temper and smashed a racket. Initially, Swiatek should pass her debut with flying colors, with the real challenges coming in the semifinals against Elena Rybakina, to potentially face Aryna Sabalenka or Coco Gauff in the final.

Full Dubai WTA draw pic.twitter.com/cFPjRq7u6M

— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) February 15, 2025

Who will claim the trophy at WTA Dubai 2025? Will the favorites prevail or will there continue to be surprises?

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Análisis del cuadro del WTA Dubai 2025. Grandes amenazas para Swiatek y Sabalenka