© Getty Images Sport – Christopher Pike
Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina have all learned their projected paths to the Dubai title as the four top-ranked players are set to compete in the same tournament for the first time since the Australian Open.
Since there haven’t been any changes at the world No. 1 position since the start of the season, Swiatek enters Dubai as the top-seeded player and has a first-round bye. In her opening match at the tournament, Swiatek could potentially play 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens, while she could take on Elina Svitolina in the Doha round-of-16, in what would be a rematch of the 2023 Wimbledon semifinal.
Swiatek’s projected Doha quarterfinal opponent is 2024 Australian Open finalist Zheng Qinwen, while the top-seeded Pole and third-seeded Gauff are the projected semifinal in the top half of the draw. The projected Doha final sees Swiatek and No. 2 seed Sabalenka taking on each other for the title.
Sabalenka’s Doha path
No. 2 seed Sabalenka also has a first-round bye, after which she will likely play against Donna Vekic. Then, Sabalenka could potentially face No. 13 seed Veronika Kudermetova before a projected quarterfinal against 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova.
The projected…
