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Naomi Osaka and Ons Jabeur are pairing up to play doubles at the Abu Dhabi Open next week, the tournament announced.
The week before the start of the tournament, Osaka and Jabeur accepted a main draw doubles wildcard. When Osaka, 26, and 29-year-old Jabeur step out on the court together in Abu Dhabi, they will be making their debut as a doubles team.
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, has very rarely played doubles throughout her career. In Abu Dhabi, Osaka will be playing doubles for the first time since 2017. The last time Osaka played doubles her partner was her sister Mari Osaka as the Osaka sisters suffered a first-round defeat in Tokyo in 2017 September.
On the other side, three-time Grand Slam finalist Jabeur also very rarely plays doubles. In Abu Dhabi, Jabeur will be playing her first doubles tournament of the year and also her first doubles event since 2023 September.
Last year, Jabeur took part in three doubles tournaments, without much success. In her last doubles tournament in Guadalajara, Jabeur and her partner Peyton Stearns exited the tournament in the round-of-16.
Enter Main Draw Doubles wild card #OnSaka 🙌
— Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open (@MubadalaADOpen) January 29, 2024
For the first time ever @NaomiOsaka and @Ons_Jabeur are teaming up! They will compete in the doubles tournament at the #MubadalaAbuDhabiOpen.#Mubadala #InAbuDhabi #AbuDhabiSC #OnsJabeur #NaomiOsaka #WTA pic.twitter.com/lgkeWJuRxa
Osaka, Jabeur set to play in the Abu Dhabi singles and doubles events
For 26-year-old Osaka, Abu Dhabi will be her third tournament since kicking off her post-pregnancy comeback. In Australia, Osaka made the Brisbane round-of-16 in her first tournament back before losing in tight two sets to Caroline Garcia in the Australian Open first round.
On the other side, Jabeur decided against playing in any tournaments leading up to the Australian Open. Instead, Jabeur went directly to the Australian Open, where she suffered a disappointing 6-0 6-2 loss to Mirra Andreeva in the second round.
After early exits at the Australian Open, there is no doubt that both Osaka and Jabeur will be looking to bounce back in Abu Dhabi. It remains to be seen how far can Osaka and Jabeur go in the Abu Dhabi singles event and also how well can they do as a doubles pair.