The inaugural Abu Dhabi Tennis Open is about to commence in a couple of weeks, and as expected, the line-up will be great. The overall idea of kick-starting the WTA season in the Middle East this year was that there are not many restrictions in the region against the Coronavirus and many players are already training in the area.
According to reports, some top players such as Sofia Kenin, Elina Svitolina and Karolina Pliskova will definitely play in Abu Dhabi. They will also have the company of Aryna Sabalenka, Belinda Bencic, Johanna Konta, Garbine Muguruza, Johanna Konta, Elena Rybakina, Elise Mertens, and Marketa Vondrousova.
Some players at the starting line of WTA Abu Dhabi 2021
Sofia Kenin 🇺🇸
Elina Svitolina 🇺🇦
Karolina Pliskova 🇨🇿
Aryna Sabalenka 🇧🇾
Belinda Bencic🇨🇭
Johanna Konta 🇬🇧
Garbine Muguruza 🇪🇸
Elena Rybakina 🇰🇿
Elise Mertens 🇧🇪
Marketa Voundrousova 🇨🇿— Luca Fiorino (@FiorinoLuca) December 22, 2020
Will Andreescu play in Abu Dhabi
It is still not clear if Bianca Andreescu will take part in the event. In 2019, the Canadian sensation proved to be able to beat anyone, even nursing (a mild) injury. However, Bianca was stopped by a tough knee injury that prevented her from competing in the first part of 2020. Later Bianca was unable to come back in the season because of the Coronavirus pandemic and some undisclosed personal problems.
If Bianca plays in Abu Dhabi, she will be the player to watch.
Sofia Kenin in 2020
Ranked world no.4 (career-high), Sofia played her last match on the 10th of October when she capitulated to Iga Swiatek 6-4 6-1 in the final of the French Open (draw).
Presently, during this year the American has achieved a 24-9 match record. The American clinched 2 titles in 2020 at the Australian Open and in Lyon. The American was the finalist at the French Open.
Elina Svitolina in 2020
Currently ranked no.5, Elina played her last match on the 21st of October when she capitulated to Maria Sakkari 6-3 6-3 in the 2nd round in Ostrava (draw).
This season the Ukrainian has a composed 21-9 match record. Elina has won 2 titles in 2020 in Monterrey and in Strasbourg.
Sofia Kenin and Elina Svitolina squared off 5 times. Their head to head is 3-2 for Svitolina. Previously, the last time when they locked horns, Elina Svitolina won 7-5 7-610 in the round robin in Shenzhen (WTA Finals) in November 2019.
You can watch the highlights in the following video.
Bianca Vanessa Andreescu in 2020
At the moment ranked no.7, the Canadian played her last match on the 30th of October 2019 when she had to retire when playing against Karolina Pliskova in the round robin and the scoreline was 6-3 .
