Defending champion Leylah Fernandez begins her WTA Washington Mubadala DC Open title defense against Poland’s Magda Linette. That is one of six matches slated for the opening day of the 2026 edition. We also predict the rest of the matches in a separate article, including Madison Keys vs Liudmila Samsonova. Who will advance to the next round?
WTA Washington Day 1 Predictions
Elisabetta Cocciaretto vs Clara Tauson
Head-to-head: Tauson 1-0 Cocciaretto
Fitness has been the major cause of concern for Clara Tauson this season. However, she looked sharp in Athens, where she made the semifinals and lost to eventual champion Barbora Krejcikova. When healthy, the Dane is one of the most dangerous hard-court players on tour. Cocciaretto is a gritty counterpuncher, but she lacks consistent firepower to go toe-to-toe with Tauson in the quick-playing conditions in D.C.
Prediction: Tauson in 2
Janice Tjen vs Rebecca Sramkova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Tjen has enjoyed a rapid rise and is now within six spots of being seeded at the US Open. But her current ranking is built on the points she accumulated during her breakout run to the Sao Paulo final last year and winning a couple of 125K tournaments towards the end of the season. Sramkova hasn’t exactly set the tour alight in 2026, but she’s won more matches and had a strong qualifying campaign in Washington. The Slovenian should have enough firepower to cruise into the next round.
Prediction: Sramkova in 2
Leylah Fernandez vs Magda Linette
Head-to-head: Fernandez 3-1 Linette
Fernandez won this tournament against all the odds 12 months ago. But she could not have asked for a trickier assignment to begin her title defense. Magda Linette has stretched the Canadian to three sets in three of their four meetings. That said, Fernandez generally raises her level in North America, and her superior movement should make the difference.
Prediction: Fernandez in 3
Main Photo Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
