Venue: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dates: February 15-21, 2009
Category: Premier
Prize Money: $2,000,000
Draw: 56M/32Q/28D
Surface: Hardcourt/Outdoors
Tournament Director: Salah Tahlak

Official Web Site:

2008 Performance: Did Not Enter

Almost didn't get direct entry!

In some ways I want Daniela to get a nasty draw - maybe that'll wake her up!

To be honest, with her form right now, I am not sure if she can be back to top 20 at the end of the year, let alone to be qualified for the YEC as she said at the beginning of the season. She hasn't beaten any higher-rank player. But of course, we are just at the beginning, let's hope Daniela somehow "wakes up" as some of you said after such tough losses and produces good and CONSIST performance.

I agree she has improved somehow, especially I like the way she serves now (first serve only, not second though). Maybe I was not clear by saying "her form". What I meant was the whole thing, not only how she plays but also mentality, consistency, etc... She still lacks of those things and unfortunately, these things make the difference between a top-class player and a good player. She starts off really well, but then by just one or two bad points, she is completely a different player. That was what I saw at Melbourne, out of the blue the confidence, consistency, they are all gone, which is for me difficult to understand. Daniela has a beautiful game, better than that of many other players, just that she can't produce all the time. From the beginning of this year, she has been given decent draws but couldn't use just one of that. That is annoying and makes me disappointed the most. I really hope we can see good results soon because if this situation continues, she may end up playing qualifying at some big tournaments, which I don't want to see.

weird to see her that close to the bottom. I hope she'll soon play more international events, gets some more wins and confidence. She should forget about YEC and maybe go for Bali.

I don't want Daniela to get a god awful draw. But i think i'd like to see her draw a seeded player, a solid seeded player who she'll have to play well to beat (in saying that, any seeded player at this event is more than capable of giving Daniela a hard time given her current temperament). She just needs that one big win to get her confidence back. If she managed to beat someone from the top ten, we might see a return to some solid form. I think maybe the fact that she's had "easy" draws has played on her mind, a tougher one will likely give her the perspective that she's got nothing to lose (except her ranking, aha).

The draw is out!!!

First Round against Wildcard Stefanie Voegele (SUI).
If she wins that first round, potential second round against either Peer or Chakvetadze, and if she gets through that, most likely third round opponent is Safina

link here:

So I just did some research on this Stefanie Voegele, and she's lost in qualifying at Auckland and at the AO. She's an up and coming teen, and I feel Daniela should win this match. I really hope she can work her way into this draw.

Another dream draw. Bleh, i really would have preferred her drawing a seeded player. She might be feeling the pressure of taking advantage of these situations. I'm really praying that this is the tournament that sets off her season.