- Sofia Kenin and Cristina Bucsa win their qualifying matches.
- Sonay Kartal secures a strong comeback, but Heather Watson exits early.
- Exciting main draw matches with Ons Jabeur, Emma Raducanu, and Marketa Vondrousova.
The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open saw thrilling action in its opening day, with Sofia Kenin and Cristina Bucsa securing victories in the qualifiers.
Meanwhile, the Brits had a mixed performance. Sonay Kartal made an impressive comeback after losing the first set to Chloe Paquet, ultimately winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. On the other hand, Heather Watson was knocked out by Katie Volynets, 6-4, 6-3.
Kenin, Bucsa, and Sonay Kartal Shine on Day 1 of Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open
The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open is underway with an exciting lineup of matches. American Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, secured a hard-fought victory in the qualifiers against Japan’s Aoi Ito. Kenin won the first set in a tie-break and cruised to a 7-6, 6-2 win. Similarly, Cristina Bucsa staged a remarkable comeback, overcoming Kamilla Rakhimova after dropping the first set to win 5-7, 7-6, 6-3.
The day was mixed for the British players. Heather Watson, the Wimbledon mixed doubles champion, was eliminated in straight sets by Katie Volynets, 6-4, 6-3. However, Sonay Kartal made a strong statement with a comeback victory over Chloe Paquet, securing the win 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 after trailing in the first set.
On the main draw front, the tournament features some exciting matchups. Crowd favorite Ons Jabeur will face off against Jelena Ostapenko, while Emma Raducanu is set to take on Marketa Vondrousova. Both of these matches are expected to be highly competitive, with the players bringing their Grand Slam-winning experience to the court.
The opening day also saw the debut of the newly expanded Mubadala Tennis Village, which is double the size of previous years. The tournament director highlighted the success of the opening day, with strong attendance and an engaging atmosphere. The event’s organizers are optimistic about what the remainder of the tournament will bring.
With thrilling qualifiers and an exciting main draw lineup, the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open is off to an action-packed start. Fans can look forward to more high-stakes matches as the tournament progresses.
“The opening day of this year’s tournament has been a huge success, with some wonderful matches and fantastic off-court entertainment.” – Nigel Gupta, Tournament Director
