The WTA Abu Dhabi Open 2026 begins with several key matches on Day 1, featuring top players and promising young talents. Elena Rybakina, the recent Australian Open champion, continues her strong season, while notable matches include Sofia Kenin vs Liudmila Samsonova, and Ajla Tomljanovic vs Leylah Fernandez. Samsonova is favored to beat Kenin with a 63% chance according to data models, though betting odds slightly favor Kenin. Fernandez, despite a slow start to 2026, is predicted to edge out Tomljanovic in a potentially tight match. Other first-round predictions include McCartney Kessler over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Hailey Baptiste defeating Teodora Kostovic, and Sofia Kenin expected to challenge Samsonova. The tournament is set at the outdoor hard courts of Zayed Sports City, with matches broadcast on Sky Sports and Tennis Channel. Overall, the day promises competitive tennis with top seeds and emerging players vying for early success.