Abu Dhabi Open
Eala pays tribute to friend Sonmez after Abu Dhabi victory
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Alexandra Eala defeated close friend Zeynep Sonmez 6-4, 6-3 in the first round of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, improving her head-to-head record to 3-0. The 20-year-old Filipina praised Sonmez's impact on tennis after the match. Eala advances to face lucky loser Aliaksandra Sasnovich next.
No. 6 seed Leylah Fernandez defeated lucky loser Chloe Paquet in the first round of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, dropping just three games in a dominant performance. This victory ends a four-match losing streak for the Canadian player. It marks her first win since October 2025.
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World No. 9 Belinda Bencic tops the seeds for the 2026 Abu Dhabi WTA Women's Tennis Open as she defends her title. The Swiss player receives a bye into the second round, while rising star Alex Eala faces a challenging opener against Zeynep Sonmez. Victoria Mboko has withdrawn from the event as a precaution.