Dubai Prepares for the 28th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge Featuring Elite Players

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

Dubai is set to host an electrifying week of tennis as the organizing committee announces that the 28th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge will run from December 1 to 7 at the Habtoor Grande Resort. Featuring 80 participants, this edition boasts numerous players from the top 100, ensuring an intense competition.

Daria Snigur, who previously secured the championship in 2021 and was runner-up in 2019, is the only past winner making her way back for the 2025 tournament. Leading the pack is Julia Grabher from Austria, currently ranked No. 92, who has had a successful season, clinching her second WTA 125 title at the Florianopolis Open, marking her return to the top 100 after two years.

Ranking closely behind is Latvia’s Darja Semenistaja, now at No. 94, who made her Grand Slam debut at the US Open this year and surged into the top 100 after winning the Les Franqueses del Valles W100 tournament in October. Another notable participant is Hungary's Dalma Galfi, ranked No. 96, who has had her share of success this season with back-to-back WTA 125 titles at both the Oeiras Ladies Open and the Catalonia Open.

The top five competitors are rounded off with Russia's Anastasia Zakharova at No. 101 and Sinja Kraus of Austria at No. 105, both eager to capitalize on their consistent performances in Dubai.

All attention will be focused on Snigur, whose remarkable 2024 performances on grass at events like Wimbledon and Nottingham have boosted her confidence as she returns to Dubai. Her participation adds a revered aspect to the competition.

This tournament has a rich history of attracting distinguished athletes, including past champions such as Sorana Cirstea, Ana Bogdan, Peng Shuai, Belinda Bencic, Kimiko Date-Krumm, and many others, underscoring the event's prominence over nearly three decades.

Qualifying rounds kick off on November 30, followed by the main tournament starting on December 1, heralding another exciting chapter for one of Dubai's historic tennis events.