The Middle East tennis swing is a term used by the WomenâÂÂs Tennis Association (WTA) to describe a series of tennis tournaments held in the Middle East early in each season, particularly those in Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. On the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour, the same group of tournaments is sometimes informally referred to by media and fans as the Middle Eastern swing, although the ATP itself does not officially use the designation.
Although not geographically in the Middle East, the WTA officially considers the tournaments in Cluj-Napoca and Ostrava as part of the swing. Five other WTA 125 tournaments held outside the region are also currently recognized by the WTA as part of the swing, in Mumbai, India; Oeiras, Portugal (two tournaments held on consecutive weeks); Les Sables-dâÂÂOlonne, France; and Midland, Michigan, United States.
The swing typically takes place in February and features several tournaments in the Middle East organized sequentially on the WTA Tour. The most prominent events include the tournaments in Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which attract many of the top-ranked players in women's tennis.
The swing includes the first WTA 1000 tournaments of the season.
All tournaments of the swing are played on hardcourts.
Despite currently being held in Saudi Arabia, which is located in the Middle East, the WTA Finals is not considered part of the Middle Eastern Swing because it takes place in November, well after the early-season tournaments that make up the swing.
Likewise, although the Middle East is geographically part of Asia, the tournaments in the region are not considered part of the Asian Swing, which refers to a separate group of events held later in the season, usually during September and October.
The following tournaments are currently considered part of the Middle East tennis swing by the WTA:
The following WTA 125 tournaments are also classified by the WTA as part of the Middle East tennis swing, despite being held outside the Middle East.
Until 2025, the tournaments in Linz and Singapore were also part of the swing, but for the 2026 season, those tournaments were both moved into different swings of the WTA's calendar, now as WTA 500 tournaments.
Switzerland tennis player Belinda Bencic is the most times singles winner of the Abu Dhabi Open, with two titles.
Polish tennis player Iga à Âwiàtek is the most times singles winner of the WTA Qatar Open, with three titles.
Justine Henin, former tennis player from Belgium, is the most times singles winner of the Dubai Tennis Championships with four titles.
KvÃÂta Peschke, Roberta Vinci, Abigail Spears, Katarina Srebotnik, Chan Hao-ching, Latisha Chan, Hsieh Su-wei, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Demi Schuurs and Sara Errani share the record of most times doubles titles at the WTA Qatar Open, with two each.
Former American tennis player Liezel Huber, is the most times winner of the doubles title at the Dubai Tennis Championships, with five titles
Currently no player has won the doubles title at the Abu Dhabi Open more than once.