ABU DHABI, UAE – 03 February 2026: Tennis fans can look forward to watching the two most talked-about stars of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, presented by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, as Belinda Bencic and Alexandra Eala are confirmed to compete on the Stadium Court on Wednesday (4 February) evening.
Olympic gold medallist Bencic will face British qualifier Sonay Kartal not before 5PM on the Stadium Court and this will be followed by Filipina star Eala taking on Aliaksandra Sasnovich as both try and book their places in the quarter-finals of this WTA 500 event.
Bencic, currently ranked World No. 9, returns to Abu Dhabi in pursuit of a third Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open title, having lifted the trophy in both 2023 and 2025.
Defending champion Bencic said: “The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open is a special tournament for me – I’ve had some of my best memories here. The atmosphere is always incredible, and it means so much to return to a place where I’ve felt so much support from the fans.”
Alex Eala will compete in a Round 16 Doubles Match tonight not before 6:30PM alongside Janice Tjen against Leylah Fernandez and Kristina Mladenovic on ADCB Court 1. Then on Wednesday evening, Eala will be back in action on the Stadium Court with huge crowds expected.
The 20 year old showed impressive form last night and is looking to put on another entertaining display for the fans. She said when asked about the prospect of becoming the first from her country to win a WTA 500 tournament: “It would mean the world – and not just as a Filipino, but just as me. It would just mean so much for my personal growth and my personal journey.”
The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open runs through 7 February 2026, blending WTA 500 action with community initiatives, including the Road to MADO youth pathway finals and the tournament’s inaugural wheelchair tennis invitational, presented by the WTA Foundation, which starts on Thursday 5 February.