Leylah Fernandez, the No. 6 seed, is gearing up to turn around her fortunes at the WTA Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open 2026 as she faces American rising star McCartney Kessler in the Round of 16 on February 3. After a disappointing Australian Open campaign where she failed to win any matches, Fernandez is eager to regain her winning form as she looked to bounce back on the hard courts of Abu Dhabi.
The match is set to be an intense battle of styles, with Fernandez’s skilled counter-punching clashing against Kessler’s aggressive playing style. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals to face either third seed Clara Tauson or Switzerland’s Simona Waltert.
Fernandez, who has previously reached the US Open final and boasts a career-high ranking of No. 13, hopes her experience will serve her well as she vies to improve her 2026 season. In the first round of the tournament, she showcased her talent with a commanding 6-0, 6-3 victory over her opponent. Meanwhile, Kessler, currently ranked No. 32 in the world, has shown significant promise, having won two titles last year and recently exiting the Australian Open after losing to semifinalist Jessica Pegula.
According to betting odds from BetMGM, Fernandez is favored to win with odds of -127, while Kessler is considered the underdog at +102. These odds reflect the competitive nature of the upcoming match, with many analysts predicting a closely contested encounter.
Both players will aim to build on their recent performances; Fernandez looks to recover from her early-season struggles, while Kessler seeks to continue her impressive trajectory. Their match is set to take place on outdoor hard courts at the Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre, highlighting the excitement surrounding the WTA Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open as they both strive for a significant victory on February 3rd.
Fans can catch the action live on channels including Tennis Channel, WTA TV, and ESPN International, ensuring that a broad audience will witness this thrilling contest.