The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships will feature former champions Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev in the upcoming tournament.
Medvedev, the 2023 champion, will return to Dubai after a difficult season. He ended the year without a title for the first time since 2017. Currently ranked fifth in the world, the 28-year-old Russian has won 20 career titles, including the 2021 US Open. Despite a loss at the ATP Finals, Medvedev will aim to start 2025 strong by defending his Dubai title.
Rublev, ranked No. 9 in the world, won the Dubai title in 2023 but lost in last year’s final to Medvedev. He claimed two titles last season, at the Madrid Open and Hong Kong Open. The 27-year-old Russian, with 16 career titles, is a strong contender for another successful Dubai campaign.
Ramesh Cidambi, managing director of Dubai Duty Free and chairman of the tournament’s organizing committee, expressed excitement about the return of former champions. “This year’s ATP 500 tournament is shaping up to be another memorable event,” he said. “We are thrilled to welcome Medvedev and Rublev back. This is the 25th year for the WTA week and the 33rd year for the ATP week, and we have always had a fantastic lineup of players.”
Joining Medvedev and Rublev are world No. 8 Alex De Minaur and No. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas. De Minaur, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 6 last July, has won nine ATP singles titles. Tsitsipas, a multiple Grand Slam finalist, has also claimed an ATP Finals victory.
World No. 19 Karen Khachanov will complete the men’s lineup. The 28-year-old Russian won his biggest title at the 2018 Paris Masters, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final. He also reached the men’s singles final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Tournament director Salah Tahlak said, “Fans from across the globe will be treated to another fantastic edition of the ATP 500 tournament. With top players already confirmed, we are excited about the competitive level this year.”
On the women’s side, the 25th anniversary of the WTA tournament will feature the world’s top 10 female players. Defending champion Jasmine Paolini, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, second-ranked Iga Swiatek, and World No. 3 Coco Gauff will lead a strong field. Swiatek won her third consecutive French Open in 2024, while Gauff ended her season with a WTA Finals victory.
The women’s competition will take place from February 16-23, with the men’s event running from February 24 to March 1.
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