The WTA500 in Abu Dhabi will commence in the first week of January and there is already a rather big surprise: Bianca Andreescu is not part of the reported entry list! The line-up is rather strong with the presence of the likes of Sofia Kenin, Elina Svitolina, Karolina Pliskova, and Garbine Muguruza, just to name a few.
Will Andreescu play the Australian Open?
The Canadian sensation has been training for 1 month in Dubai where she seems to be in good form. Therefore it was more than legit to assume that she would have played in Abu Dhabi like most of the other top players that are already in the Emirates. In addition, Bianca hasn’t played for more than 1 year after the injury sustained in the 2019 WTA Finals. If fit, competing in Abu Dhabi would have been perfect to have some indications and with a rather good buffer for recovering in time for the Australian Open that will be played only the 8th of February.
Bianca confirmed that she will play at the Australian Open, but given the fact that she is not part of the event in Abu Dhabi, some doubts may creep in.
Entry list
Here the updated entry list
1. KENIN, SOFIA (USA) 4
2. SVITOLINA, ELINA (UKR) 5
3. PLISKOVA, KAROLINA (CZE) 6
4. SABALENKA, ARYNA (BLR) 10
5. BENCIC, BELINDA (SUI) 12
6. MUGURUZA, GARBINE (ESP) 15
7. RYBAKINA, ELENA (KAZ) 19
8. MERTENS. ELISE (BEL) 20
9. VONDROUSOVA, MARKETA (CZE) 21
10. SAKKARI, MARIA (GRE) 22
11. KONTAVEIT, ANETT (EST) 23
12. BRADY, JENNIFER (USA) 24
13. MUCHOVA, KAROLINA (CZE) 27
14. PUTINTSEVA, YULIA (KAZ) 28
15. ANISIMOVA, AMANDA (USA) 30
16. JABEUR, ONS (TUN) 31
17. VEKIC, DONNA (CRO) 32
18. ALEXANDROVA, EKATERINA (RUS) 33
19. WANG, QIANG (CHN) 34
20. KUZNETSOVA, SVETLANA (RUS) 36
21. PAVLYUCHENKOVA, ANASTASIA (RUS) 38
22. ZHENG, SAISAI (CHN) 41
23. FERRO, FIONA (FRA) 42
24. GARCIA, CAROLINE (FRA) 43
25. OSTAPENKO, JELENA (LAT) 44
26. COLLINS, DANIELLE (USA) 45
27. KUDERMETOVA, VERONIKA (RUS) 46
28. PODOROSKA, NADIA (ARG) 47
29. SHVEDOVA, YAROSLAVA (KAZ) 47 SR
30. GAUFF, CORI (USA) 48
31. HERCOG, POLONA (SLO) 49
32. MLADENOVIC, KRISTINA (FRA) 50
33. SIEGEMUND, LAURA (GER) 51
34. CORNET, ALIZÉ (FRA) 53
35. SEVASTOVA, ANASTASIJA (LAT) 54
36. TIG, PATRICIA MARIA (ROU) 56
37. WATSON, HEATHER (GBR) 58
38. SINIAKOVA, KATERINA (CZE) 59
39. BLINKOVA, ANNA (RUS) 61
40. PERA, BERNARDA (USA) 62
41. PEGULA, JESSICA (USA) 63
42. VAN UYTVANCK, ALISON (BEL) 64
43. KREJCIKOVA, BARBORA (CZE) 65
44. SORRIBES TORMO, SARA (ESP) 66
45. HSIEH, SU-WEI (TPE) 67
46. TOMLJANOVIC, AJLA (AUS) 68
47. BADOSA, PAULA (ESP) 70
48. CIRSTEA, SORANA (ROU) 71
49. KASATKINA, DARIA (RUS) 72
50. RUS, ARANTXA (NED) 74
51. ZHU, LIN (CHN) 74 SR
WTA Abu Dhabi entry list, via @Tennis_BTU_ENG pic.twitter.com/XZ3zEaac95
— Michal Samulski (@MichalSamulski) December 22, 2020
Bianca Vanessa Andreescu in 2020
Now 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 .
Sofia Kenin in 2020
Currently the world no.4 (career-high), the American played her last encounter on the 10th of October when she lost to Iga Swiatek 6-4 6-1 in the final of the French Open (draw).
Until now, during this year the American has managed to achieve a compiled 24-9 match record. The American conquered 2 titles in 2020 at the Australian Open and in Lyon. Sofia reached the final at the French Open.
Bianca Vanessa Andreescu and Sofia Kenin played each other 3 times. Their actual head to head record is 2-1 for Andreescu. Previously, the last time when they squared off, Bianca Vanessa Andreescu won 6-4 7-65 in the semifinal in Toronto (Rogers Cup) in August 2019.
In the following video you can watch the key moments of their match.
Elina Svitolina in 2020
Currently the world no.5, Elina played her last match on the 21st of October when she surrendered to Maria Sakkari 6-3 6-3 in the 2nd round in Ostrava (draw).
Currently, during this season Elina has a 21-9 match record. The Ukrainian conquered 2 titles in 2020 in Monterrey and in Strasbourg.
Karolina Pliskova in 2020
Currently ranked no.6, the Czech played her last match on the 22nd of October when she lost to Veronika Kudermetova 4-6 6-4 6-3 in the 2nd round in Ostrava (draw).
Until now, during this year the Czech has a 14-8 match record. Pliskova conquered 1 title in Brisbane. Karolina was the runner-up in Rome.
Elina Svitolina and Karolina Pliskova played each other 8 times. The head to head is 4-4. The last time they fought against each other, Elina Svitolina won 7-612 6-4 in the round robin in Shenzhen (WTA Finals) in October 2019.
Here the highlights.
