After Australian Open Disappointment, Rybakina Returns to the Court
Former Wimbledon Champion Favored in WTA Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open Odds
Three Top-10 Players Highlights A Stacked Abu Dhabi Open Field
Elena Rybakina returns to the WTA tour for the first time since her early exit from the Australian Open as one of three top-10 players in the field. She leads the way in the WTA Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open Odds.
Rybakina fell two spots to No. 5 in the latest WTA rankings. Ons Jabeur, Maria Sakkari, Barbora Krejcikova, and Jelena Ostapenko are the other big hitters to keep an eye on. Rybakina, Jabeur, and Sakkari are all ranked in the top 10. Krejcikova and Ostapenko recently fell out of the top 10.
The field is strong enough that No. 30 Linda Noskova is the top seed in the qualifying draw. Americans Caroline Dolehide, Sofia Kenin, Danielle Collins, Ashlyn Krueger, and Bernarda Pena are seeded in qualifying.
When looking at the tennis betting odds, Rybakina is fourth at +1200 in the French Open outrights followed by Jabeur (+2000), and Krejcikova (+2500).
Keep on reading for more on the WTA Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open. The tournament starts on Monday.
Rybakina Looks To Bounce Back
After beating Aryna Sabalenka in the Brisbane International, expectations were high for Rybakina at the Australian Open.
While Sabalenka rolled to her second straight Australian Open title, Rybakina was one of the first of the top contenders eliminated from the first Grand Slam tournament of 2024.
Rybakina was the No. 3 seed in last year’s Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open before falling to Beatriz Haddad Maia in the quarterfinals. She is the player to beat when looking at the WTA Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open odds.
After reaching the French Open quarterfinals in 2021, Rybakina has lost in the third round in each of the last two years, so this event is part of her quest to have better results at Roland Garros.
The Other Top Contenders
Rybakina is far from the only player to keep an eye on.
Three-time Grand Slam singles finalist Ons Jabeur, 2021 French Open semifinalist Maria Sakkari, 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova, 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, and 2022 French Open semifinalist Daria Kasatkina are among the players expected to be in the field so there are plenty of challengers when it comes to the WTA Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open odds.
Defending champion Belinda Bencic is not among those on the entry list. However, 2023 finalist Liudmila Samsonova
is in the field.
When looking at the tennis schedule, Ostapenko and Anastasia Potapova are the players who took part in the previous WTA 500 event in Linz, Austria.
A Look At The US Hopes
Emma Navarro is the top American in the main draw. She moved up three spots to No. 23 in the current WTA rankings.
She won the Hobart tournament last month with a win over veteran Elise Mertens in the WTA title match.
Keep an eye on the qualifying draw, as multiple Americans could not only join the field but could make some noise in the tournament.
A Quick History Lesson
The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open began as a result of the global pandemic canceling WTA events in Asia.
Sabalenka was the No. 4 seed in the inaugural event in 2021, and she lost just one set on her way to the title.
Veronika Kudermetova was one of three unseeded WTA players to reach the quarterfinals as she advanced to the final.
The tournament wasn’t held in 2022. In the 2023 event, No. 2 seed Bencic didn’t drop a set until Samsonova took the opening set in the singles final. Bencic won in a tiebreaker to force a third set and won the title with a 6-4 win in the final set.
Samsonova, Kudermetova, and Kasatkina join Rybakina as 2023 quarterfinalists in this year’s field.
What’s Up Next?
Many of the same players will be headed to the WTA 1000 event in Doha, Qatar that runs from Feb. 11-17. That is followed by another WTA 1000 event in Dubai.
The following events in the United States are the WTA 500 stop in San Diego and the 250 event in Austin, Texas. Both tournaments are slated to start on Feb. 26.
For tennis betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
Can’t get enough? Here’s more!
- Linz WTA Event Is Wide Open After Wimbledon Champion’s Withdrawal
- Defending champion Sabalenka Favored Vs Zheng in Australian Open Final
- Defending Champion Sabalenka Rolling Early At the Australian Open
- Swiatek Favored to Win Australian Open for First Time
- Rybakina and Pegula Among Players to Watch in WTA Adelaide Event
