Petra Martic defeated Su Wei Hsieh 6–4, 6–3 in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships on hard court, confirming her status as pre-match favourite with odds of 1.58 to Hsieh's 2.52. The Croatian secured a straightforward victory, breaking down her opponent's resistance across two sets of controlled tennis. Martic's composed performance in the opening round positioned her favourably for the tournament's latter stages, while Hsieh's early exit marked a disappointing campaign in the Middle East.