Serena Williams' withdrawal leaves Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships wide open

Last year’s beaten finalist Karolina Pliskova says Serena Williams’ late withdrawal from the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships has left the draw wide open. World No1 Williams was forced to pull out of the tournament on Friday due to illness leaving defending champion Simona Halep as the No1 seed. Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber, former world No1 Caroline Wozniacki and 2012 winner Agnieska Radwanska are also missing through injury. Pliskova will meet Coco Vanderweghe in the first round on Monday and she believes everyone in the draw has a genuine chance of success this week.

Karolina Pliskova

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