Essential Guide to Dubai Tennis Championships: Dates, Players, and More
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships brings together top players from around the world. As the final event in the Middle Eastern tennis swing, it succeeds the Qatar TotalEnergies Open in Doha. This prestigious tournament offers significant ranking points and lucrative prize money on the road to the WTA Tour’s Sunshine Swing in North America.
Essential Details about the Tournament
Dates and Venue
The tournament is set to take place from February 13 to February 21, 2026. Qualifying rounds start on February 13, while main-draw matches begin on February 15. The finals will occur on February 21, with the doubles final scheduled at 4:30 p.m. local time, followed by the singles final. All matches are held on outdoor hard courts at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre.
Player Participation
This year, the tournament features a competitive field, with 56 players in the singles draw. This includes:
- 43 direct entries
- 8 qualifiers
- 4 wild cards
- 1 Special Exempt spot
The top eight seeds will receive byes into the second round. The doubles draw includes 28 teams, with the main draw announced on February 14 at 1 p.m. local time.
Star Players
All players ranked in the Top 10 of the PIF WTA Rankings will compete in Dubai. Notable entries include:
- Aryna Sabalenka (World No. 1), returning after withdrawal from Doha
- Jessica Pegula, back in action after missing the previous tournament
- Belinda Bencic, recovering from an illness
- Iva Jovic, quarterfinalist at the Australian Open
Unfortunately, Madison Keys, ranked No. 16, withdrew due to injury. Other injured players include Naomi Osaka and Marketa Vondrousova. Filipina star Alexandra Eala joins the main draw as an alternate after McCartney Kessler’s withdrawal.
Prize Money and Ranking Points
With prize money amounting to $4,088,211, the stakes are high. The breakdown for singles is as follows:
| Position | Prize Money | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Champion | $665,000 | 1,000 |
| Runner-up | $385,001 | 650 |
| Semi-Finalists | $197,000 | 390 |
| Quarter-Finalists | $98,500 | 215 |
| Round of 16 | $49,250 | 120 |
| Round of 32 | $26,000 | 65 |
| Round of 56 | $18,300 | 10 |
The doubles champions will earn $195,000, while the runners-up receive $110,010.
Defending Champions
Last year, Mirra Andreeva captured her first major title in Dubai, becoming the youngest WTA 1000 champion. At just 17, she achieved remarkable victories, defeating top competitors like Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina. Other past champions in this year’s draw include Jasmine Paolini, Barbora Krejcikova, and Elina Svitolina, among others.
The reigning doubles champions, Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, secured victory in the previous year. Siniakova returns, teaming with Storm Hunter, while Townsend is not participating this year.
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships promises thrilling matches and opportunities for players to excel on the global stage.
