Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open has unveiled a strong field in which the 2022 Wimbledon champion and world No.5 Elena Rybakina headlines a line-up featuring Grand Slam winners, Olympic medallists and some of the sport's rising stars when the WTA 500 tournament returns to the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City, from 31 January to 7 February.
The Kazakh powerhouse Rybakina, who won the tournament in 2024, has established herself as one of the game's elite competitors since her historic triumph at the All England Club, reaching the 2023 Australian Open final and securing multiple WTA 500 and 1000 titles, including the 2025 WTA Finals Riyadh, where she brushed aside world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.
"I really enjoyed my time in Abu Dhabi last year," said Rybakina, who was defeated in the semi-finals by Bencic. "The city's support for tennis is amazing, and reaching the semi-finals was a solid way to begin 2025. This year, I'm coming back with the goal of going all the way again. The competition will be fierce, but that's what makes it exciting."
Rybakina will be joined by Bencic, who returns to defend her unbeaten record at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open. The Swiss Olympic gold medallist has lifted the trophy in both 2023 and 2025 and remains the only player never to have lost a match at the tournament. She skipped the 2024 edition for a maternity break.
Spanish favourite Paula Badosa adds further depth to the elite contingent. A former world No.2 and Indian Wells champion, Badosa brings explosive power and fierce competitiveness to a field that promises compelling match-ups throughout the week.
The tournament's commitment to give opportunities for the next generation is seen in the participation of Canadian sensation Victoria Mboko and Filipina star Alexandra Eala. Mboko continues her remarkable rise on the WTA Tour, having rocketed from outside the world's top 300 at the start of 2025 to inside the top 20 following titles in Montreal and Hong Kong.
Joining her is the Philippines' Eala, who returns to Abu Dhabi following her 2024 debut. The 20-year-old former US Open girls' champion has continued her steady climb through the rankings and remains a national icon as their highest-ranked player in tour history.
Czech duo Barbora Krejcikova, a multiple Grand Slam champion in both singles and doubles, and Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, bring proven major pedigree. American rising star Emma Navarro, Denmark's Clara Tauson, and Canada's Leylah Fernandez – the 2023 French Open finalist – add further depth to an already formidable draw.
The field also features former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, who captured the 2025 doubles title in Abu Dhabi alongside Ellen Perez, and will be eager to add singles success to her tournament resume. Chinese star Qinwen Zheng, Ukrainian talent Dayana Yastremska, and 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin round out a top-20 contingent.
A dark horse could even emerge out of the likes of Russians Ekaterina Alexandrova and Liudmila Samsonova, Belgium's Elise Mertens, Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia, American McCartney Kessler, and Australian Maya Joint, thus ensuring competitive depth across the entire draw.
