The main draw of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships kicks off on Monday and there are a number of intriguing ties to sink your teeth into at the Aviation Club.

Below, Reem Abulleil analyses three of the top match-ups between players who have very rarely, if ever, met in a WTA tournament before.

Two players with contrasting styles who have never faced off before. Osaka hits a big ball that can cause some serious damage on the fast courts of Dubai while Mladenovic is more about finesse than power. Mladenovic finally ended her 15-match losing streak by making the final in St. Petersburg and as a resident in the Emirates, should be familiar with the conditions here.

Verdict: Mladenovic in two.

Their only previous meeting came in the Beijing last-16 last year, where Kasatkina triumphed in three close sets. A match that will have lots of variety from two players who possess great skill. Radwanska is a former Dubai champion while Kasatkina has played just one match here, a first round loss to Caroline Wozniacki in 2017.

Verdict: Radwanska in three.

A first meeting between the pair. Konta is making her Dubai debut while Pavlyuchenkova is making her eighth appearance. The Brit showed signs of her fierce form in Doha last week, where she avenged her Australian Open shock defeat to Bernarda Pera before easing past Carla Suarez Navarro. Pavlyuchenkova has won just one match this season.

Verdict: Konta in two.