The tennis at the WTA Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open will ramp up on Tuesday, with just four matches on the schedule. Quarterfinal spots are on the line, with four seeded players taking to the court. LWOT previews and predicts who will make the next step towards a WTA 500 title.
McCartney Kessler vs Leylah Fernandez
Head-to-head: First meeting
It hasn’t been a great start to 2026 for either player, but both Kessler and Fernandez cruised in their respective first Abu Dhabi matches. Fernandez only dropped three games in her opener, but the Canadian has been particularly vulnerable to faster servers and power-hitters this season. Picking Kessler to take the initiative in the key moments.
Prediction: Kessler in 3
Hailey Baptiste vs Emma Navarro
Liudmila Samsonova vs Janice Tjen
Head-to-head: First meeting
This should be a fun first-time matchup. Tjen survived a back-and-forth affair against Maya Joint on Monday, winning 7-6(6) 3-6 6-3. She’ll have to go up against a completely different brand of tennis, with Samsonova being one of the strongest and flattest hitters on Tour. Samsonova looked strong in her first round match against Sofia Kenin, but I believe Tjen has a crafty style of tennis that could trouble the No. 5 seed. Samsonova has been up-and-down so far in 2026, and I ultimately sense a minor upset.
Prediction: Tjen in 3
Clara Tauson vs Simona Waltert
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
