Dubai to host Australian Open 2021 women’s qualifying

Australian Open 2021 women’s qualifying will take place at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium and Complex in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from Sunday 10 to Wednesday 13 January.

“We appreciate the assistance of our friends and colleagues in Dubai for hosting the Australian Open 2021 women’s qualifying event due to the current travel restrictions into Australia,” Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley said.

“From the beginning of all our planning for the AO our objective has been to provide the players with as many competition opportunities, and the ability to earn prize money, as we possibly could.

“I’d like to thank the Brandplus team of Bharat Godkhindi, Kay Godkhindi and Sagari Godkhindi for their ongoing support and friendship in organising this event.”

The decision to host qualifying offshore is an innovative solution for the AO and will see 128 women compete for sixteen qualifying spots in the Australian Open main draw held in Melbourne from 8-21 February.

Dubai Sports Council, the approving authority for all sports and cultural events added, ”Over the past few months, Dubai’s credentials as one of the leading host of top international sports events has been on display for the world, first with the Indian Premier League and then with golf’s European Tour.

“Now, we are really proud to welcome 128 tennis players from around the globe for the women’s qualifying of the Australian Open 2021. The decision to host these events here shows the global sports fraternity’s confidence in Dubai’s ability to deliver top notch tournaments in completely safe surroundings in these challenging times.

“Tennis players are a regular here, both for training and time off, and they know what Dubai has to offer. We are sure they will be looking forward to the qualifying tournament here and giving off their best in a totally safe environment, with all the necessary COVID-19 precautions and protocols in place.”

Timea Babos (HUN), two-time Australian Open and Roland Garros doubles champion and one half of the 2020 WTA Doubles Team of the Year is among the entrants in the qualifying field. Former world No.5 and Australian Open 2014 semifinalist Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) and Stefanie Vogele (SUI), who is vying to make her eighth Australian Open main draw appearance, will also compete.

Other high-profile contenders include Australian Open 2012 quarterfinalist and former world No.1 doubles player Sara Errani (ITA), former world No.20 Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU), Wimbledon 2010 semifinalist and US Open 2020 quarterfinalist Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) and former world No.35 CiCi Bellis (USA).

The youngest competitors on the entry list include two former Australian Open girls’ singles champions – Clara Tauson (DEN) and Liang En-Shuo (TPE). The 18-year-old Tauson, who won the AO girls’ title in 2019, is the first Danish player to top the junior rankings and made her Grand Slam debut at Roland Garros this year. Liang, a 20-year-old who won the AO 2018 girls’ title, will also travel to Dubai.

World No.161 Whitney Osuigwe (USA), also a former world No.1 junior who made her first Australian Open main draw in 2019, is another one to keep an eye on.  

Nine Australian women will compete in Dubai with Kimberly Birrell (Qld) and Ellen Perez (NSW) joining qualifying wildcards Seone Mendez (NSW), Abbie Myers (NSW), Storm Sanders (WA), Ivana Popovic (NSW), Olivia Gadecki (Qld), Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz (SA), Alexandra Bozovic (NSW) have also been included in the qualifying field.

AO 2021 women’s qualifying wildcards – 10-13 January (as at 29 December 2020)

Abbie Myers (NSW)

Seone Mendez (NSW)

Ivana Popovic (NSW)

Olivia Gadecki (Qld)

Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz (SA)

Alexandra Bozovic (NSW)

Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva (AND)

Wildcard - TBD

Players will need to win three qualifying matches to qualify for the main draw and all matches are best of three sets. Following the event the 16 qualifiers will be joined by a further six alternate players and travel to Australia to undertake 14 days of mandatory quarantine with other main draw players.

The qualifying draw will take place at 4:00 pm local time (GMT+4) on Saturday 9 January and will be available here.

Live scoring and live streaming of qualifying where available will be hosted via ausopen.com and the AO app.