ABU DHABI: Grand Slam winner Emma Raducanu will compete at this year’s Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open having been awarded the final wild card spot for the qualifiers, with fans able to watch the British star in action on the opening day of the tournament free of charge.

Returning to the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City, for its third edition, the Women’s Tennis Association 500 event runs from Feb. 1-8. A host of the world’s best female players will descend on the UAE capital for what promises to be a thrilling tournament.

A star-studded line-up has now been strengthened by the addition of Raducanu, 22, who returns to Abu Dhabi for the second consecutive year.

The highlight of the young player’s career to date was undoubtedly her sensational US Open triumph in 2021 when, at the age of 18 and having entered the tournament as a qualifier, she secured the title without dropping a single set.

Having beaten the likes of Belinda Bencic and Maria Sakkari on her way to the final, she claimed the trophy following a 6-4, 6-3 win over Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, a player she could face in Abu Dhabi.

Popular with fans in the Middle East, Raducanu received fantastic support at last year’s Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, where she produced a brilliant display to overcome Marie Bouzkova in the Round of 32, before exiting at the hands of Ons Jabeur in the last 16.

Earlier this week, Raducanu was beaten by Cristina Bucsa at the Singapore Open. She also competed at the recent Australian Open, losing to five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek in the third round after beating Ekaterina Alexandrova and Amanda Anisimova, who will both line up in Abu Dhabi.

Raducanu joins a strong roster which includes current champion Elena Rybakina, three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur, Australian Open semi-finalist Paula Badosa, winner of the inaugural Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open Belinda Bencic, and last year’s beaten finalist Daria Kasatkina.