Dubai tournament draw announced: Zhang Zhizhen and Shang Juncheng face tough paths, defending champion risks first-round exit!

The tennis calendar for the Year of the Horse is in full swing. In the two consecutive 500-level tournaments held in the Middle East, Doha will hold its final match tonight, and the Dubai tournament next week has just revealed its draw. Let’s check it out.

Unlike Doha, which boasts the twin stars Auger-Aliassime and Sinner, Dubai’s top seed is "merely" Aliassime. However, the Canadian started the season strongly, already securing a tour title this year. Can he capitalize on this momentum for another win? His first-round opponent is our player Zhang Zhizhen.

Another seeded player in this section is Czech player Lehečka. Coincidentally, he faces Fils, who eliminated him in Doha. However, the French talent has just returned, played three tournaments, and reached tonight’s Doha final, so there is still a chance he might withdraw.

Another exciting first-round matchup to watch is the clash between two 500-level champions — Mahachi versus Shapovalov. Their contrasting playing styles promise an intriguing contest.

The second quarter is led by former champion Medvedev, who also faces a Chinese player, Shang Juncheng, in the first round. Another Russian, Khachanov, is also in this section. But perhaps the most eye-catching player here is wildcard entrant Wawrinka.

It’s now routine to see Russia’s “big three” all competing at the same event. Rublev, the defending champion who fell short in Doha, is seeded fifth and anchors the third quarter. He is likely to face the winner between Humbert and Tsitsipas in round two. The Greek player recently defeated Medvedev in Doha, gaining confidence, but then exited in the quarterfinals. As the defending champion, Medvedev ended his 500-level title drought here last year, yet surprisingly, despite once being a top-ten regular, he did not secure a seed this time. This sets up a key first-round battle in this section.

Another notable match is the showdown between Mauresmo and last year’s Shanghai Masters runner-up Lindgren. The long-absent British No.1 Draper is also in this quarter. Having shaved his head, it remains to be seen if his form can match that of Auger-Aliassime, who once competed bald.

The final quarter is led by this season’s newly minted top-ten player Bublik, who is likely to face Dutch No.1 Griekspoor in round two. The eighth seed Mieschik has an unlucky draw, facing Hurkacz in the first round and potentially Poplin, another Masters player, in the second.

Overall, Chinese players have tough draws: one faces the top seed, the other a former champion, making advancement very challenging. Tsitsipas also faces a crucial ranking battle; an early exit would cause a further drop in his ranking.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Luo Cheng Qiye)