Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek could be set for another thrilling battle next season after their fascinating tussle in 2024.
Tim Henman named Sabalenka his Player of the Year for 2024, with the Belarusian having won two Grand Slam titles.
Sabalenka ended the year as WTA number one, having been second-best to Swiatek for the majority of the season.
Belarusian ace Sabalenka managed four titles in total in 2024, one behind the Pole, who emerged victorious at the French Open.
Another intriguing head-to-head race is certainly on the cards for 2025, with the Australian Open first up in terms of Grand Slams.
Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek confirmed for Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
Melbourne plays host to the event in January, where Sabalenka is looking to defend her title and indeed win three in a row.
But she and Swiatek have already been looking beyond the Australian Open, with both confirmed to play at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
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The pair will be joined by defending champion Jasmine Paolini, with the tournament getting underway on 16 February.
| Aryna Sabalenka | Iga Swiatek | |
| 1 | Current ranking | 2 |
| 4 | Titles | 5 |
| 56-14 | Win-loss | 61-9 |
| $9,729,260 | Prize money | $8,550,693 |
| 4 | Head-to-head wins (Career) | 8 |
Jessica Pegula and Qinwen Zheng set to play in Dubai
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships will also welcome a former champion and current Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova.
Olympic gold medalist and WTA number five Qinwen Zheng is also set to feature, as well as her fellow top 10 stars Daria Kasatkina and Jessica Pegula.
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Before that, however, the top players across the women’s game will be vying for Australian Open glory from mid-January.
Second seed Sabalenka triumphed last time out with a 6-3, 6-2 win over 12th seed Zheng, becoming the first woman to secure back-to-back titles since compatriot Victoria Azarenka in 2013.
| Rank | Player | Age | Tournaments played | Points |
| 1 | Aryna Sabalenka | 26 | 21 | 9416 |
| 2 | Iga Swiatek | 23 | 18 | 8295 |
| 3 | Coco Gauff | 20 | 22 | 6530 |
| 4 | Jasmine Paolini | 28 | 20 | 5344 |
| 5 | Qinwen Zheng | 22 | 21 | 5340 |
| 6 | Elena Rybakina | 25 | 20 | 5171 |
| 7 | Jessica Pegula | 30 | 19 | 4705 |
| 8 | Emma Navarro | 23 | 25 | 3589 |
| 9 | Daria Kasatkina | 27 | 24 | 3368 |
| 10 | Barbora Krejcikova | 28 | 17 | 3214 |
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