Halep, Kvitova & Pliskova added to stellar Dubai tennis line-up

Defending champion Simona Halep has accepted a wild card into next week’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships WTA event. The world No3 is joined by last year’s beaten finalist Karolina Pliskova and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, who is also a former champion in Dubai (2013). Confirmation of the trio’s participation means there will now be four of the world’s top five and six of the top 10 competing next week, including world No1 Serena Williams. The WTA event, which takes place between February 15-20, also features Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber, Wimbledon finalist Garbine Muguruza, former world number ones Ana Ivanovic, Caroline Wozniacki and Jelena Jankovic, and top teenager Belinda Bencic. Agnieszka Radwanska, the champion in 2012, had also been due to attend, but has been forced to withdraw due to injury. She has been replaced by 2013 Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki. Tickets for the tournament are on sale at: www.dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com.