Elena Rybakina, the world number three and Australian Open champion last month, expressed her happiness at returning to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and stated her goal of lifting the Dubai trophy and joining the list of champions.
Rybakina will begin her campaign at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships the day after tomorrow. The tournament, which began its 26th edition today at Dubai Duty Free, has a total prize money of $4.08 million and is classified as a 1000 event. The Kazakh star is optimistic about the chance to win her first title in Dubai, having fallen just short in 2020 when she finished runner-up.
Speaking at a press conference for the stars today, Rybakina said: "I really love Dubai. Today was my first practice after the Qatar Open, and I'm looking forward to my first match."
She added: "My time in Dubai is usually busy, and I haven't had a chance to see the new court and the improvements that have been made to Court 1. We have many tournaments, and as players, we must continue to strive and improve."
"The season is very long, and I know there's no room to stop, and I must always develop my game daily. There are some things to do, and many areas for activities," she continued.
Regarding her hectic 2026 tournament schedule and her proximity to the top of the world rankings, Rybakina said: "I didn't have time to celebrate after winning the Australian Open; I went home and caught a light cold that kept me in bed for a few days, then I went straight to Doha. Today, I am back in Dubai again to participate in the tournament."
She concluded: "Of course, my goal is to aim for the world number one ranking, but it depends on the other players' results and the expected outcomes. I was training and preparing for the 2026 season on these courts, and the officials here always resurface them. Everything here is familiar to me."
