Women’s tennis has left Australia for the Middle East and WTA Abu Dhabi. Most of the first-round matches feature competitive lines. LWOS is here with the best bets for those early first-round matches. Please share your best bets in the comments section.
WTA Abu Dhabi
Tomljanovic – Fernandez: Time 05:00
H2H: 1-0
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Leylah Fernandez opens up our coverage. These two met once before at the 2024 Birmingham Open. Tomljanovic won the quarterfinal match in three sets. Fernandez has yet to win a match in 2026, but Tomljanovic is 3-3 this year. This will be their first hardcourt match, and that should favor Fernandez.
Best Bet to Make
Fernandez is the favorite in this match by about a 2-1 margin. Tomljanovic is an alright hardcourt player, but more often than not, she is a .500 player on a hardcourt. Fernandez was 28-16 on a hardcourt in 2025, but is 0-3 to start ’26. I like Tomljanovic in this match because Fernandez is playing some pretty bad tennis right now.
That being said, Tomljanovic winning is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/the best odds: Tomljanovic winning @2.58 @Betfair
Kessler – Pavlyuchenkova: Time 02:30
H2H: 0-0
McCartney Kessler vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is a first-time meeting of the two top 50 players in the World. Neither lady is off to a great start in 2026. Kessler is 2-3, Pavlyuchenkova is 0-2; all five matches have been played on a hardcourt. In theory, Pavlyuchenkova is a more seasoned hardcourt player, but that doesn’t mean Kessler is a pushover. That said, it’s been since 2024 that Pavlyuchenkova was over .500 on a hardcourt.
Best Bet to Make
Kessler is the favorite in this match by about 2.25-1 odds. Kessler has had the better losses this year, losing to Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, and Olga Danilovic. Pavlyuchenkova lost to a 36-year-old Viktoria Azerenka. I think Kessler should be able to dispatch Pavlyuchenkova in two sets.
That being said, Kessler winning is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/the best odds: Kessler winning 2:0 @2.5 @Bet365
Samsonova – Kenin: Time 01:00
H2H: 1-2
Liudmila Samsonova vs Sofia Kenin is our featured match. Kenin leads the all-time rivalry 2-1, but Samsonova won the last match, a second-round match at WTA Wuhan that went three sets. Kenin’s victories came at WTA Doha in 2023 and the 2020 French Open. Both of her wins came in the first round. Samsonova is 2-3 this year and Kenin is 1-3.
Best Bet to Make
Samsonova may have lost her last three matches, but she’s been a much more lively opponent than Pavlyuchenkova. You can grab Samsonova 2:0 for 2.25 on bet365 or you can take Samsonova straight for 1.56 on Pinnacle. I would be more inclined to eliminate the correct score bet in favor of a straight-up bet. Give the play of either lady in 2026, do you really wanna be caught holding the bag on an unlikely outcome?
That being said, Samsonova winning is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/the best odds: Samsonova winning @1.56 @Pinnacle
Main Photo Credit: Jerry Lai–USA TODAY Sports
