World number one Serena Williams is the latest star to join the stunning line-up that will contest the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships taking place from 17 February, after being granted a wild card.
The American has claimed an incredible 17 Grand Slam singles titles and is also an Olympic gold medal winner after her triumph in London in 2012.
However, Williams has remarkably still to add the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships to her portfolio, and this will be her fourth attempt to lift the trophy.
She first played in Dubai in 2005 and was forced to retire in the semi-finals against Jelena Jankovic due to injury. Her next appearance was in 2009 when she again reached the semi-finals before losing a nail-biting battle with her sister Venus Willaims.
She will now join Venus, who was granted a wild card earlier in the week, in a star studded line up in Dubai which includes four former world number ones and 7 of the world’s top ten players.
“There is no greater player in the world today than Serena Williams, and although she has now reached an age when many players would be thinking of retiring her career is still going from strength to strength,” said Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of tournament owners and organisers Dubai Duty Free.
“Last year she won an astonishing 34 consecutive matches, the longest winning streak of her career and the second longest of any player this century.”
A year ago she became the oldest ever world number one, as she set another record with her massive $12 million prize money haul for a single season. The year also marked the first time she had won 11 titles in a season, and 78 match victories .
“Serena will join a tournament that is one of the strongest outside of the Grand Slams,” said Tournament Director Salah Tahlak. “It includes no less than four players who have won the title, including her two-time champion sister Venus. She will also be up against defending champion Petra Kvitova, 2012 winner Agnieszka Radwanska and 2011 champion Caroline Wozniacki.”
Other players who will provide the strongest possible opposition include WTA Most Improved Player of the Year Simona Halep, recent Paris Indoor champion and 2013 Dubai runner-up Sara Errani, Ana Ivanovic who last month won Auckland and then upset Serena at the Australian Open.
Tickets for the event are on sale from the Box Office at the Dubai Tennis Stadium, Garhoud which is open from 9am to 9pm daily. Grandstand ticket prices range from 75dhs for opening rounds to 500dhs for finals, with season tickets also available.
