The WTA Abu Dhabi Open did not ease into its first full day. It announced itself loudly.
As the Middle East Swing begins, the WTA 500 event has already delivered a familiar but unforgiving message: reputation guarantees nothing. By the end of the opening round, multiple seeds were gone, qualifiers were surging, and two names from Southeast Asia — Alexandra Eala and Janice Tjen — had placed themselves firmly at the center of the narrative.
This was not just an opening round. It was a reshuffling.
Eala’s Control, Clarity, and Composure
At the top of the story stands Alexandra Eala, whose straight-sets win over Zeynep Sönmez (6–4, 6–3) was quieter than many upsets — and more convincing for it.
Eala dictated the match through discipline rather than force. She absorbed Sonmez’s early resistance, broke at the right moments, and never let the match drift into chaos. Her first-serve reliability and superior return positioning slowly tilted the balance, particularly as Sonmez struggled to land first serves consistently.
Once Eala moved ahead in the second set, there was no hesitation. The Filipina closed cleanly, calmly, and without theatrics — a performance that continues to justify her rapid rise inside the Top 50.
Her reward is a second-round meeting with Aliaksandra Sasnovich, the same player who eliminated Paula Badosa. It is a matchup that will test Eala’s ability to withstand pace and pressure — but momentum is clearly on her side.
Alexandra Eala vs Zeynep Sönmez – Match Stats
| Statistic | Alexandra Eala | Zeynep Sonmez |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 1.27 | 0.79 |
| Service | ||
| Serve Rating | 222 | 185 |
| Aces | 2 | 0 |
| Double Faults | 4 | 1 |
| 1st Serve % | 58% (37/64) | 67% (42/63) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 65% (24/37) | 48% (20/42) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 41% (9/22) | 38% (8/21) |
| Break Points Saved | 33% (2/6) | 50% (6/12) |
| Service Games Won | 60% (6/10) | 33% (3/9) |
| Serve Frequency | ||
| Ace % | 3.1% | 0% |
| Double Fault % | 6.3% | 1.6% |
| Return | ||
| Return Rating | 231 | 201 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 52% (22/42) | 35% (13/37) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 62% (13/21) | 59% (13/22) |
| Break Points Won | 50% (6/12) | 67% (4/6) |
| Return Games Won | 67% (6/9) | 40% (4/10) |
| Points | ||
| Pressure Points Won | 44% (8/18) | 56% (10/18) |
| Service Points Won | 56% (36/64) | 44% (28/63) |
| Return Points Won | 56% (35/63) | 44% (28/64) |
| Total Points Won | 56% (71/127) | 44% (56/127) |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 1 |
| Max Points In A Row | 6 | 4 |
| Games | ||
| Service Games Won | 60% (6/10) | 33% (3/9) |
| Return Games Won | 67% (6/9) | 40% (4/10) |
| Total Games Won | 63% (12/19) | 37% (7/19) |
| Max Games In A Row | 4 | 2 |
| Match Duration | 1h29m | |
Tjen Survives the Storm and Earns Her Shot
If Eala’s win was about control, Janice Tjen’s was about survival.
The Indonesian teenager came through a bruising three-set battle against Australia’s Maya Joint, winning 7–6, 3–6, 6–3 in a match defined by momentum swings, emotional resets, and resilience. Tjen absorbed Joint’s aggression, steadied after losing the second set, and found her range again when the match demanded it most.
It was not perfect tennis. It was brave tennis.
That bravery now earns Tjen a place in the round of 16 — and a daunting next test against Liudmila Samsonova, one of the tournament’s most aggressive ball-strikers. For Tjen, the matchup is less about expectation and more about exposure: a chance to measure her ceiling against elite pace.
Badosa’s Struggles Deepen
Among the early exits, Paula Badosa’s loss carried particular weight.
The Spaniard fell 4–6, 6–3, 1–6 to Aliaksandra Sasnovich, undone by inconsistency and a second serve that repeatedly failed her in critical moments. While Badosa briefly found rhythm in the second set, the match unraveled decisively in the third as Sasnovich reeled off five consecutive games.
Statistically, the warning signs were clear: six aces offset by eight double faults, and just 30% of points won behind the second serve. For a player trying to rebuild confidence after a ranking drop to No. 65, it was another missed foothold.
Paula Badosa vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich – Match Stats
| Statistic | Paula Badosa | Aliaksandra Sasnovich |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 0.89 | 1.12 |
| Service | ||
| Serve Rating | 214 | 243 |
| Aces | 6 | 2 |
| Double Faults | 8 | 1 |
| 1st Serve % | 64% (47/74) | 60% (50/83) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 68% (32/47) | 68% (34/50) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 30% (8/27) | 45% (15/33) |
| Break Points Saved | 45% (5/11) | 43% (3/7) |
| Service Games Won | 54% (7/13) | 69% (9/13) |
| Serve Frequency | ||
| Ace % | 8.1% | 2.4% |
| Double Fault % | 10.8% | 1.2% |
| Return | ||
| Return Rating | 175 | 203 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 32% (16/50) | 32% (15/47) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 55% (18/33) | 70% (19/27) |
| Break Points Won | 57% (4/7) | 55% (6/11) |
| Return Games Won | 31% (4/13) | 46% (6/13) |
| Points | ||
| Pressure Points Won | 50% (9/18) | 50% (9/18) |
| Service Points Won | 54% (40/74) | 59% (49/83) |
| Return Points Won | 41% (34/83) | 46% (34/74) |
| Total Points Won | 47% (74/157) | 53% (83/157) |
| Match Points Saved | 1 | 0 |
| Max Points In A Row | 7 | 6 |
| Games | ||
| Service Games Won | 54% (7/13) | 69% (9/13) |
| Return Games Won | 31% (4/13) | 46% (6/13) |
| Total Games Won | 42% (11/26) | 58% (15/26) |
| Max Games In A Row | 4 | 5 |
| Match Duration | 1h58m | |
Badosa now turns her attention to Doha, still searching for stability as the season moves quickly on.
Kasatkina Stunned as Waltert Breaks Through
The chaos continued with Daria Kasatkina’s early exit at the hands of Swiss qualifier Simona Waltert, who claimed a 7–6(5), 3–6, 6–4 victory in a match lasting nearly three hours.
Kasatkina had chances — including serving for the first set — but Waltert refused to yield. After Kasatkina responded with a strong second set, the deciding stretch belonged to the Swiss, who won the final four games with fearless hitting and unshaken belief.
Daria Kasatkina vs Simona Waltert – Match Stats
| Statistic | Daria Kasatkina | Simona Waltert |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 1.01 | 0.99 |
| Service | ||
| Serve Rating | 241 | 240 |
| Aces | 0 | 3 |
| Double Faults | 9 | 5 |
| 1st Serve % | 71% (81/114) | 68% (69/102) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 58% (47/81) | 59% (41/69) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 52% (17/33) | 48% (16/33) |
| Break Points Saved | 44% (4/9) | 58% (7/12) |
| Service Games Won | 69% (11/16) | 67% (10/15) |
| Serve Frequency | ||
| Ace % | 0% | 2.9% |
| Double Fault % | 7.9% | 4.9% |
| Return | ||
| Return Rating | 168 | 177 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 41% (28/69) | 42% (34/81) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 52% (17/33) | 48% (16/33) |
| Break Points Won | 42% (5/12) | 56% (5/9) |
| Return Games Won | 33% (5/15) | 31% (5/16) |
| Points | ||
| Pressure Points Won | 43% (9/21) | 57% (12/21) |
| Service Points Won | 56% (64/114) | 56% (57/102) |
| Return Points Won | 44% (45/102) | 44% (50/114) |
| Total Points Won | 50% (109/216) | 50% (107/216) |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Max Points In A Row | 7 | 5 |
| Games | ||
| Service Games Won | 69% (11/16) | 67% (10/15) |
| Return Games Won | 33% (5/15) | 31% (5/16) |
| Total Games Won | 52% (16/31) | 48% (15/31) |
| Max Games In A Row | 5 | 4 |
| Match Duration | 2h44m | |
The victory sends Waltert into the round of 16 for the first time at WTA 500 level and lifts her into the Top 80. Kasatkina, meanwhile, leaves Abu Dhabi with just one win from her last five matches this season.
Other Movers as the Draw Takes Shape
Elsewhere in the opening round:
- Leylah Fernandez dispatched lucky loser Chloé Paquet with authority.
- McCartney Kessler continued her strong form, defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in straight sets.
- Jelena Ostapenko survived an early scare to advance.
- Dayana Yastremska overpowered Beatriz Haddad Maia in a statement win.
Top seed Belinda Bencic, along with Clara Tauson, Emma Navarro, and Ekaterina Alexandrova, all received byes — but the carnage below them has already reshaped the landscape.
Round of 16: a Bracket Stripped of Comfort
The last-16 lineup reflects a tournament already leaning toward volatility:
- Belinda Bencic vs Sonay Kartal (Q)
- Sara Bejlek (Q) vs Jelena Ostapenko
- Clara Tauson vs Simona Waltert (Q)
- McCartney Kessler vs Leylah Fernandez
- Liudmila Samsonova vs Janice Tjen
- Hailey Baptiste vs Emma Navarro
- Aliaksandra Sasnovich vs Alexandra Eala
- Dayana Yastremska vs Ekaterina Alexandrova
It is a draw where form matters more than seeding — and nerve more than reputation.
Abu Dhabi Belongs to the Fearless
The Abu Dhabi Open has always rewarded players willing to take control early. This year, it may reward those unburdened by expectation.
With Alexandra Eala and Janice Tjen leading a new wave, qualifiers thriving, and established names already packing their bags, the tournament has tilted decisively toward courage over comfort.
And it is only just beginning.
Related WTA Articles You Might Enjoy
Abu Dhabi 2025 Results: Complete List of Matches Including Qualifiers and Updates
Indonesia’s Janice Tjen Shocks Eala, Storms Into First WTA Semifinal in São Paulo