Zheng Qinwen faces another tough draw in Dubai, surrounded by strong regional rivals; netizens say reaching the third round would be a pleasant surprise.

With Sabalenka and Swiatek out, will Zheng Qinwen benefit from this advantage to get a favorable draw in Dubai? After the draw came out, some lamented that the Chinese number one must depend on her true ability to equal or better her Doha results.

Although Zheng Qinwen’s first-round opponent is a qualifier, which seems like a decent start, the uncertainty about who exactly this player is and their current form makes it hard to predict whether China’s top player will smoothly get past the opening round.

If Zheng Qinwen clears the first round, her potential second-round opponents are Kenin or Tauson, with many guessing she is more likely to face Tauson, meaning her real challenge could begin as early as round two.

Danish player Tauson performed well in the new season’s Abu Dhabi 500 event, advancing straight into the semifinals.

Although Tauson lost in the first round in Doha to Siniakova, resulting in an early exit, some fans believe this might actually be her strength. The reasoning is that after a humiliating loss in Doha, she might be highly motivated to prove herself in Dubai and avoid an early departure, so Zheng Qinwen must prepare carefully and not underestimate her.

Facing Alexandrovna, a well-known Russian player, in the third round would likely make it even harder for Zheng Qinwen to advance easily.

As for the potential quarterfinal opponent Pegula, semifinal opponents Anisimova or Mboko, and final opponents Rybakina or Gauff, each is stronger than the last, naturally increasing the difficulty for Zheng Qinwen to progress.

Considering Zheng Qinwen just returned to competition and has only played one tournament in Doha, encountering such a tough draw in Dubai surrounded by strong rivals has lowered expectations; fans hope she can perform at her normal level, with reaching the third round being a surprise and making the quarterfinals a major achievement—nothing more is expected!

After the draw was released, some questioned why there is so much concern about Zheng Qinwen in Dubai when her performance in Doha was impressive, even pushing the new Australian Open champion Rybakina to a tough fight; losing narrowly should not cause such worry, as it might just undermine her confidence.

Many now feel that Zheng Qinwen’s tough path in Dubai is not due to a lack of faith but because the medium-paced hard courts suit various playing styles. Her potential opponents—Tauson, Alexandrovna, Pegula, Anisimova, Mboko, Rybakina, and Gauff—represent a broad range of styles, raising the bar for Zheng Qinwen to not only prepare well but also outperform them to advance.

Another reason for external concern about Zheng Qinwen is uncertainty about how consistent her current form will be.

Zheng Qinwen’s recent return saw her reach the third round in the Doha 1000 event, which was surprising. In the first round against Kenin and second against Parks, many doubted her chances, but she showed strong self-adjustment to overcome both challenges.

Whether Zheng Qinwen can maintain her Doha form and momentum into Dubai naturally becomes one of the key storylines of this 1000-level tournament.

A favorable point for Zheng Qinwen is that she exited in the first round in Dubai last year, so she has no ranking points to defend, allowing her to compete with a relaxed mindset, which may help her perform more confidently this time!

The Dubai main draw starts on February 15, coinciding with the Chinese Lunar New Year. Fans jokingly call Zheng Qinwen’s participation “Xiao Zheng working overtime during the Spring Festival.” It remains to be seen if she dares to push herself hard in Dubai to claim the $665,000 singles champion prize—about 4.59 million RMB—as a festive bonus, making everyone cheer wildly! Stay tuned!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit River’s Starry Sky)