Emma Raducanu on course for Dubai last-16 meeting with Elena Rybakina
Emma Raducanu has landed a draw in Dubai that leaves open the tantalising prospect of a third-round showdown with Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina. The 23-year-old Briton will open her campaign against qualifier Elisabetta Cocciaretto and, if all goes to seed, would meet Rybakina in the last 16. Raducanu is due to begin her tournament on Monday, February 16 (ET).
Draw sets up potential Raducanu–Rybakina clash
The draw places Raducanu on a collision course with the top seed should both advance. Raducanu’s first test comes against Elisabetta Cocciaretto, a player who earned her place in the main draw qualifying and arrives with recent competitive momentum. Progressing would likely pit Raducanu against the winner of Moyuka Uchijima and 15th seed Karolina Muchova, while Rybakina has a first-match bye and will face either Tatjana Maria or Kimberly Birrell when she takes to the court.
If both Raducanu and Rybakina navigate their early matches, the pair would meet in the third round — a high-profile encounter that would test Raducanu’s progress after a patchwork start to the season. The absence of two of the sport’s highest-ranked players has reshuffled seedings and opened the draw in places, increasing opportunity but not reducing the quality of opposition she may face down the line.
Form, fitness and ranking implications
Raducanu arrives in Dubai coming off a disrupted week in Qatar, where she retired from her opening match due to illness. That withdrawal followed a run to the final at the Transylvania Open, a performance that pushed her back into the top 25. The contrasting results underline how volatile momentum can be early in a season that remains critical for her ranking and confidence.
There are concrete ranking stakes in Dubai for Raducanu. She carries just 75 points to defend from February — 10 from Doha and 65 from last year’s Dubai appearance — giving her both the opportunity to gain ground and the risk of losing little if results stall. A deep run here would consolidate the progress she made late in the previous season, while another early exit would raise fresh questions about consistency and fitness heading into the spring hard-court swing.
What to watch in Raducanu’s opening match
Elisabetta Cocciaretto will offer a stern first-round test. The Italian came through qualifying and boasts a blend of aggressive baseline hitting and competitive toughness, recent hallmarks that have helped her trouble higher-ranked opponents. Raducanu will need to manage her service games, convert break chances and stay physically comfortable after her recent bout of illness.
Beyond the immediate head-to-head, the match will be an early indicator of Raducanu’s match sharpness and how well she’s settled without a long-term coaching appointment in place. Tactical clarity, first-serve percentage and the ability to finish points will be decisive if she is to progress to the round where Rybakina awaits.
Note: Emma Navarro, a different professional on the tour, is a separate player and not the focus of this draw discussion.
