Madison Keys faces former champion Liudmila Samsonova in the standout first-round match at the WTA Washington Mubadala DC Open. Six matches are scheduled on Day 1 of the tournament as the US Open preparations begin in earnest in the nation’s capital. Who will reach the second round?
WTA Washington Day 1 Predictions
Emma Navarro vs Sofia Kenin
Head-to-head: Kenin 1-0 Navarro
After a tough start to the season, Emma Navarro turned the tide during the European summer, winning her third career title in Strasbourg and nearly adding another in the Nottingham final (lost a classic to Marie Bouzkova). By contrast, Sofia Kenin has tallied five wins all season. Still, she should be encouraged with her performance at Wimbledon, where she took Amanda Anisimova to a deciding final-set tiebreak. Kenin can flip a switch when you least expect it, so Navarro might have to dig deep to avoid a potential upset.
Prediction: Navarro in 3
Ashlyn Krueger vs Katie Boulter
Head-to-head: Krueger 2-1 Boulter
Ashlyn Krueger has clearly taken a step forward in 2026 with improved consistency and confidence. She is back in the Top 100 and enters this match ranked above Katie Boulter. The Briton will compete but lacks solid form after her shock Wimbledon first-round exit (lost three in a row).
Prediction: Krueger in 2
Madison Keys vs Liudmila Samsonova
Head-to-head: Keys 5-1 Samsonova
2022 champion Liudmila Samsonova enters this year’s draw as a newlywed. The Russian is one of a handful of WTA stars who tied the knot after Wimbledon. Whether the fortnight away from competition leaves her slightly rusty or refreshed remains to be seen, but this is a horrible matchup for Samsonova, who is 1-5 against Madison Keys. It’s quite a surprise that Keys has not performed as well in Washington, D.C., but she has featured just once since 2019. That said, I think Keys should be more confident of a strong run this week after a decent grass swing.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
