The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, one of the standout ATP 500 events, has released its qualifying draw ahead of the main tournament scheduled from February 23 to 28, 2026. The qualifying rounds will determine which players secure the final spots in the main draw, adding intensity to the early stages of the competition.
Seeds and wildcards in action
Top seed Botic van de Zandschulp leads the qualifying field, facing Pablo Carreno Busta in the opening round. Other notable seeds include Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard [2], Quentin Halys [3], Jan-Lennard Struff [4], Alexander Shevchenko [5], Jesper de Jong [6], Aleksandar Vukic [7], and Luca Nardi [8]. Wildcards have been awarded to Marco Trungelliti, Nikoloz Basilashvili, and Abdulrahman Al Janahi, giving them a chance to challenge higher-ranked opponents.
| Match | Player 1 | Player 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Botic van de Zandschulp [1] | Pablo Carreno Busta |
| 2 | Marco Trungelliti [WC] | Luca Nardi [8] |
| 3 | Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard [2] | Shintaro Mochizuki |
| 4 | Jan Choinski | Jesper de Jong [6] |
| 5 | Quentin Halys [3] | Christopher O’Connell |
| 6 | Nikoloz Basilashvili [WC] | Alexander Shevchenko [5] |
| 7 | Jan-Lennard Struff [4] | Abdulrahman Al Janahi [WC] |
| 8 | Otto Virtanen | Aleksandar Vukic [7] |
Key matchups to watch
Several intriguing clashes highlight the draw. Luca Nardi, seeded eighth, will face wildcard Marco Trungelliti, while Jan-Lennard Struff, the fourth seed, takes on local wildcard Abdulrahman Al Janahi. Another compelling battle features Alexander Shevchenko against former top-50 player Nikoloz Basilashvili. These encounters could set the tone for the qualifying rounds and potentially produce surprises.
Path to the main draw
With only a limited number of spots available, the qualifying rounds are crucial for players aiming to join stars such as Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Alexander Bublik in the main event. The qualifying competition not only offers ranking points but also provides valuable momentum heading into one of the most prestigious tournaments on the Middle Eastern swing.
The Dubai ATP 500 qualifying draw sets the stage for a competitive week, where rising talents and experienced campaigners will battle for entry into the main draw of one of the season’s most anticipated events.
Botic Van De Zandschulp in 2026
Now the world no.55, Botic played his last match on the 13th of February when he was defeated by world no.6 Alex De Minaur 3-6 7-6(4) 7-5 in the quarter in Rotterdam (draw).
Currently, during this season the Dutch has managed to achieve a 5-4 win-loss record.
