Prior to the two WTA 1000 tournaments there is also a 500 level event in Abu Dhabi, where Emma Raducanu is playing.

Raducanu has a temporary coach in the Emirati capital, after Nick Cavaday left her team to focus on his health.

Alongside the tournament in Abu Dhabi, there is also an event on indoor hard courts in Cluj-Napoca where Russian player Anastasia Potapova is the top seed.

Anastasia Potapova criticizes some players on the WTA Tour

Potapova is a two-time WTA title winner and has been ranked as high as world number 21.

In a recently interview with a Russian tennis outlet, Potapova claimed that her colleagues have become too spoilt when speaking on players complaining about ball changes and scheduling.

“I think that some players have become too soft and spoiled,” said Potapova. “There are things that make the tour more difficult, but on the other hand… I also had moments when I wasn’t happy with my life, when I felt like I couldn’t stay on the tour anymore.

“But then you remember where you started. And you’re like, ‘Yeah, my life is wonderful.’ I think sometimes you forget where you came from, because the players live in a bubble.”

Potapova continued, “We really live in our own world and it really is tough at times, but any professional sport is tough. It requires a lot of work, a lot of sacrifice, it’s a lot of pressure – both mental and physical. It’s tough.

“But that’s not the worst life a person can have. I think at some point you need to know how to stop, look around you, remember how things used to be, see how things are now and what they could be in the future and simply thank destiny for where you are now.”

What did Jessica Pegula not like about the Australian Open this year?

World number six Jessica Pegula suffered a surprise third round exit at the Australian Open to Serbian player Olga Danilovic.

This is the second consecutive year that the usually consistent Pegula has been knocked out of the Melbourne major in an earlier round.

After losing to Danilovic, the American spoke in her press conference about the conditions in her night session match and claimed that it felt like playing on a different surface.

“Conditions were so slow, it was slower than a clay court, it felt like,” said Pegula. “The balls were so heavy, and that totally I think favored her for sure.

“It’s just tough having to deal with those conditions and playing against an opponent, I think, where it also favors her, but not just favors her, but also she played really well, I think it was all those factors trending in her direction tonight.”

Despite these comments, some players including Ons Jabeur disagreed with Pegula about the court speeds.

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