Belinda Bencic and Alexandra Eala have agreed to come to the WTA 500 tournament in Abu Dhabi, the event organizers have announced.
Bencic, ranked at No. 11 in the world, has had major success in Abu Dhabi so far in her career as she owns a 9-0 record at the tournament and has won two titles. The Swiss made it all the way at the United Arab Emirates event in 2023 - didn't defend her title in 2024 due to pregnancy - returned to the tournament this year, and once again took the main glory.
On the other side, rising star Alexandra Eala is set for her second Abu Dhabi appearance. In 2024, the current world No. 50 debuted in Abu Dhabi as a wildcard, but didn't impress after losing to Magda Linette in the first round. However, it should be noted that the 20-year-old Filipina wasn't anywhere near her current level when she played in the United Arab Emirates the last time.
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WTA CEO's statement after Bencic, Eala signed up for Abu Dhabi
We are thrilled to see the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open return for its fourth edition in 2026. This tournament has quickly earned a place as a favourite stop on the WTA Tour thanks to its excellent organisation, enthusiastic crowds and the warm hospitality of Abu Dhabi. The Fan Village at the 2025 tournament was best in class on the tour and we look forward to another fantastic week in the UAE," WTA CEO Portia Archer said in a statement.
This year, Bencic defeated Rebecca Sramkova, Veronika Kudermetova, Marketa Vondrousova, Elena Rybakina and Ashlyn Krueger en route to winning her second title in Abu Dhabi. Evidently, the Swiss feels extremely comfortable in the United Arab Emirates hard-court tournament, and she will certainly once again be among the favorites for the title.
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The 2026 Abu Dhabi edition is slated to take place between January 01-February 07.
It remains to be seen if Bencic can pull of a three-peat.
