\n World No. 5 Elena Rybakina to headline strong field at 2026 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open\n <\/p>\n
\n\tABU DHABI: One of the strongest fields in its history has been unveiled for this year\u2019s Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe 2022 Wimbledon champion and world No. 5 Elena Rybakina will head an exciting line-up featuring Grand Slam winners, Olympic medalists and the sport\u2019s most exciting rising stars when the WTA 500 tournament returns to the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City, from Jan. 31 to Feb. 7.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe Kazakh powerhouse, who won the tournament in 2024, has established herself as one of the game\u2019s elite competitors. Since her triumph at Wimbledon, she has reached the 2023 Australian Open final and secured multiple WTA 500 and 1000 titles, including the 2025 WTA Finals Riyadh where she brushed aside World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cI really enjoyed my time in Abu Dhabi last year,\u201d said Rybakina, who was defeated in the semi-finals by Bencic. \u201cThe city\u2019s support for tennis is amazing, and reaching the semifinals was a solid way to begin 2025. This year, I\u2019m coming back with the goal of going all the way again. The competition will be fierce, but that\u2019s what makes it exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tRybakina will be joined by Belinda Bencic, who returns to defend her unbeaten record at the event. The Swiss Olympic gold medalist has lifted the trophy in both 2023 and 2025 and remains the only player never to have lost a match at the tournament.<\/p>\n
\n\tSpanish favorite 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 matches throughout the week.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe tournament\u2019s commitment to the next generation is underlined by the confirmation of two of 2025\u2019s most compelling breakthrough stars. Canadian sensation Victoria Mboko, who rocketed from outside the world\u2019s top 300 at the start of 2025 to inside the top 20 following titles in Montreal and Hong Kong, continues her remarkable rise on the WTA Tour.<\/p>\n
\n\tJoining her is Filipina star Alexandra Eala, who returns to Abu Dhabi following her 2024 debut. The 20-year-old former US Open girls\u2019 champion has continued her steady climb through the rankings and remains the highest-ranked Filipino player in tour history.<\/p>\n
\n\tCzech duo Barbora Krejcikova, a multiple Grand Slam champion in both singles and doubles, and Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, bring proven track records while American rising star Emma Navarro, Denmark\u2019s Clara Tauson and Canada\u2019s Leylah Fernandez \u2014 the 2023 French Open finalist \u2014 add further depth to an already formidable lineup.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe field also features former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, who captured the 2025 doubles title in Abu Dhabi alongside Ellen Perez. Chinese star Qinwen Zheng, Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska and 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin round out a top 20 that promises world-class tennis from the opening qualifiers through to the championship weekend.<\/p>\n
\n\tFurther elite talent includes Ekaterina Alexandrova and Liudmila Samsonova, Belgium\u2019s Elise Mertens, Brazil\u2019s Beatriz Haddad Maia, American McCartney Kessler and Australian Maya Joint.<\/p>\n
\n\tNigel Gupta, MARI tournament director, said: \u201cThe 2026 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open field represents everything this tournament has become \u2014 a compelling blend of Grand Slam champions, Olympic medalists and the sport\u2019s most exciting emerging talent. Elena Rybakina\u2019s arrival as our top seed adds tremendous star power, while Belinda\u2019s pursuit of a third title and the inclusion of breakthrough stars like Victoria Mboko and Alexandra Eala demonstrate our commitment to showcasing both today\u2019s champions and tomorrow\u2019s legends. This is shaping up to be our strongest edition yet.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"World No. 5 Elena Rybakina to headline strong field at 2026 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open
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