The 2026 WTA Abu Dhabi Open has reached the semifinal stage. Czech qualifier Sara Bejlek faces third seed Clara Tauson, while Hailey Baptiste will lock horns against Ekaterina Alexandrova. Who will reach the final of the first tournament of the Middle East Swing?

WTA Abu Dhabi Semifinal Predictions
Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Hailey Baptiste

Head-to-head: Alexandrova 1-0 Baptiste

Alexandrova is now the highest-ranked player in the draw, and the Russian is projected to return to the Top 10 next week. In just her second appearance at the Abu Dhabi Open, Alexandrova has reached the semifinals with straight set wins against Dayana Yastremska and Alexandra Eala.

Baptiste had never won a match in this tournament before this week, but she’s picked up three to reach her first Tour-level semifinal. The biggest of those wins was in the last 16, where she beat compatriot Emma Navarro in three sets. Baptiste has gone the full distance in all three matches and beat Liudmila Samsonova with a late break in the quarterfinal.

Much like Samsonova in the last match, Baptiste faces another big hitter. Alexandrova dropped just two games in their only WTA meeting at the 2024 Wuhan Open. Alexandrova plays with more refined power and she is a little faster between shots. Her power can be unerring and untamed in this form and the second seed looks poised to make her first final of the season.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2

Clara Tauson vs Sara Bejlek

Head-to-head: first meeting

Sara Bejlek has been on fire at the Abu Dhabi Open. She has marched into her first WTA semifinal without dropping a set. Bejlek’s impressive run began in qualifying, where she routinely defeated Ekaterina Ovcharenko and Chloe Paquet. In the main draw, Bejlek knocked out current and former Top 50 players, including World No. 24 Jelena Ostapenko. Her quarterfinal victory over Sonay Kartal was probably the most complete performance she has delivered so far. Bejlek dismantled the Briton 6-0 6-2 in 63 minutes. But she’ll be up against one of the title favorites.

Tauson hasn’t made a WTA final in almost a year, which is an unbelievable stat considering the run she was on at the start of last season. That said, the Dane has looked far too comfortable this week and is playing without any dips. Tauson’s first-ball control and pace should prove too much for the Czech to handle.
Prediction: Tauson in 2

Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports