Elena Rybakina has a very tricky potential route to the Dubai title that includes Coco Gauff

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Elena Rybakina returns to action at the Dubai Tennis Championships, which are now underway on the WTA Tour.

Rybakina is the number one seed in Dubai, from which both Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek have withdrawn.

The WTA 1000 tournament arrives immediately after the WTA 1000 event in Qatar, which was won by Karolina Muchova.

Fresh from winning the Australian Open, Rybakina fell in the quarterfinals to Victoria Mboko, who went on to lose the final to Muchova.

Elena Rybakina’s tricky route to Dubai title includes Coco Gauff

Rybakina now moves from Doha to the Dubai Tennis Championships, where she has a very tough potential route to further success on the WTA Tour.

Of course, the top seed has received a bye in round one, before meeting Tatjana Maria or Kimberly Birrell in round two.

After that, she could take on British number one Emma Raducanu or Elisabetta Cocciaretto, who recently knocked Coco Gauff out in Doha.

But fresh from her title in Qatar, Muchova also represents a potential third round opponent for Rybakina in Dubai.

She then potentially takes on Belinda Bencic, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Paula Badosa or Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals.

Rybakina may then face Gauff or Jasmine Paolini in the semifinals, with Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova, Ekaterina Alexandrova or Mirra Andreeva among her potential final opponents.

Elena Rybakina under pressure to perform at Dubai Tennis Championships

Rybakina has been busy since winning the Australian Open, unlike her fellow finalist and world number one Sabalenka.

She hasn’t played since losing in Melbourne, choosing rest and recovery over more tennis after winning the Brisbane title before the hard-court Grand Slam.

Now missing in Dubai alongside Swiatek, it’s not a good look for the WTA Tour, but the latest field remains strong despite the high-profile withdrawals.

There is certainly pressure on Rybakina to deliver as the top seed, but she should still be on a high after winning the Australian Open.

There will also be pressure on Gauff, who fell to Svitolina in the Australian Open quarterfinals before losing her opening match in Doha.

She should be motivated to get back to winning ways in Dubai, which isn’t exactly a positive for Rybakina, should they meet.

Also taking part in the WTA 1000 tournament are rising stars Mboko, Iva Jovic and Alexandra Eala, although there has been another blow with the recent withdrawal of Qinwen Zheng in Dubai.