Iconic stars who dazzled at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

Ahead of the 25th anniversary of the WTA tournament at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, we look at 25 females who have taken to the Emirates’ famous hard courts. Whether it is one of the 17 previous winners or a high-profile name who came, saw, but failed to conquer, the tournament’s rollcall reads like a who’s who of professional women’s tennis from the past three decades.

Seventeen Champions

1.Martina Hingis

A record-breaking history maker, Hingis was a five-time Grand Slam singles champion and, long before Roger Federer rewrote the books, the first Swiss player to reach World No1. She won Dubai’s inaugural tournament in 2001, beating Natalie Tauziat in the final and setting the bar high for the next 25 years.

2.Amelie Mauresmo

The two-time Grand Slam champion brought her elegant, tactical game to Dubai at the turn of the century, winning in 2002 with a series of her trademark powerful baseline plays and solidifying her status as one of tennis’s most versatile and graceful competitors.

3.Justine Henin

The seven-time Grand Slam winner dominated the early years of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, clinching the title in 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007. Her remarkable backhand and relentless determination made her a formidable force in the tournament’s history. No female has more Dubai titles than the little Belgian.

4.Lindsay Davenport

A three-time Grand Slam champion, the American brought her consistent power game to Dubai in 2005, demonstrating her relentless groundstrokes and laser precision to secure a maiden win. She returned in 2006 but lost in the semifinals.

5.Elena Dementieva

The 2008 Olympic gold medallist won the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships the same year, defeating Russian compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final. Her exceptional baseline consistency and athleticism were key to her success in the tournament.

6.Venus Williams

A trailblazing icon in tennis, the American debuted in Dubai in 2002. A three-time champion (2009, 2010, 2014), her dominance and star power have solidified her status as a tournament favourite. In 2014, she defeated Alizé Cornet in the final to secure a first Premier-level title since 2010 after a lengthy battle with Sjogren’s syndrome, a debilitating autoimmune disease.

7.Caroline Wozniacki

The 2018 Australian Open champion regularly graced Dubai with her resilient baseline play, lifting the trophy in 2011. Known for her consistent performances, she was a perennial contender in the tournament’s fiercely competitive draws and, a huge football fan, famously posed with special guest Diego Maradona one year.

8.Agnieszka Radwanska

The “Ninja" of tennis brought her crafty and intelligent game to Dubai 11 times, capturing the title in 2012. Her tactical brilliance and flair made her a standout at that year’s event as she beat German Julia Gorges in straight sets.

9.Petra Kvitova

The two-time Wimbledon champion showcased her explosive left-handed game as she won the Dubai tournament in 2013. Her powerful shot-making and resilience made her an unstoppable force as she overcame Italian Sara Errani in three sets in the final.

10.Simona Halep

The two-time Grand Slam champion triumphed in Dubai twice, in 2015 and 2020. Renowned for her tenacity and athleticism, the Romanian remains one of the most celebrated players in the tournament’s 25-year history.

11.Sara Errani

The Italian reached the Dubai final for a second time in four years in 2016, this time taking little time to deliver the tournament’s most one-sided final and beat Russian Barbora Strýcová 6-0, 6-2.

12.Elina Svitolina

The two-time Dubai champion beat Wozniacki in the 2017 final before defending her title the following year against Daria Kasatkina become only the third women in history to win back-to-back titles in the emirate.

13.Belinda Bencic

The Swiss star captured the Dubai crown in 2019, defeating a stellar field on route to glory. Known for her precision and tactical brilliance, Bencic continues to return to the emirate’s event and always enjoys great support.