Five things to look out for at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open

ABU DHABI: The Women’s Tennis Association’s Middle East swing kicks off its three-week stint in the Gulf on Monday with the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open.

Defending champion and top seed Elena Rybakina headlines a stellar field at Zayed Sports City that also includes Tunisian fan favorite Ons Jabeur, recent Australian Open semi-finalist Paula Badosa, last year’s Abu Dhabi finalist Daria Kasatkina, and British wildcard Emma Raducanu.

Here are the main talking points surrounding the action in the UAE capital this week:

Rybakina debuts new coaching partnership

After parting ways with coach Goran Ivanisevic post-Australian Open, World No.5 Rybakina has a new figure in her corner in Abu Dhabi in the form of ex-Association of Tennis Professionals player Davide Sanguinetti.

Stefano Vukov is still part of Team Rybakina but is currently provisionally suspended pending an investigation for an alleged breach of the WTA Code of Conduct. This means he cannot be credentialed at any sanctioned tournament.

Rybakina lost to eventual champion Madison Keys in the Australian Open fourth round last month and says she suffered a back problem during her time in Melbourne.

The Kazakhstani big hitter went straight to Dubai after the opening Grand Slam of the season and underwent treatment for her back before a week’s training with Sanguinetti and Vukov.

“It's really nice to be back,” she told Arab News in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. “I feel like it’s really like a second home for me, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, it’s really nice. I always spend my preparation here and I spend a lot of time here. I’m just really happy to be back and I’m looking forward to start(ing) here.”

Rybakina has a bye in the first round and awaits one of two qualifiers — Sonay Kartal or