Former champion Svitolina heads Dubai draw, Swiatek and Muguruza on collision course

Three former champions will line up in the 2021 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, with two-time winner Elina Svitolina

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Svitolina, who won the title here in 2017 and 2018, has a first-round bye and will face an opening clash against either former World No.2 Svetlana Kuznetsova, a three-time runner-up in Dubai, or Wang Qiang. Alongside the Ukrainian, 2013 champion Petra Kvitova is the No.4 seed and 2019 champion Belinda Bencic

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Bencic, who reached the Adelaide final two weeks ago, faces a tough road. The Swiss player will open against either Veronika Kudermetova

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Among the most fascinating projected clashes in the draw is a potential third-round match between No.8 seed Iga Swiatek

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Whoever survives between Swiatek and Muguruza will be tested again in a projected quarterfinal against No.3 seed Aryna Sabalenka

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Elsewhere, a clash of former World No.1s could loom as early as the second round. No.7 seed Victoria Azarenka

View Profile , a Dubai finalist in 2010, was forced to withdraw from this week's Doha semifinals with a back injury. A first-round bye will give the Belarusian more recovery time before she faces either Angelique Kerber or Caroline Garcia

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A number of landmines also stand in Kvitova's way. The Czech will open against either Paula Badosa

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View Profile . The last 16 could either see a first encounter between Kvitova and last year's runner-up, No.14 seed Elena Rybakina

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Kvitova's projected quarterfinal opponent is No.5 seed Kiki Bertens. The Dutchwoman managed to win just two games from Jelena Ostapenko

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Main draw play begins on Sunday. The tournament will be hosted in line with Covid-19 guidelines and will be spectator-free.