Eighth-seeded Emma Navarro is set to face Kazakh qualifier Yulia Putintseva in the second round of the 2026 Adelaide International, hoping to gain momentum as both players prepare for the upcoming Australian Open. The match is scheduled to take place on January 14, 2026, at the Memorial Drive Tennis Center in Adelaide, Australia, on outdoor hard courts.
Navarro, who recently improved her form with a solid 6-3, 6-3 victory against home favorite Emerson Jones in the first round after a disappointing start to the season, will be looking to capitalize on this momentum. In her initial match of 2026 at the ASB Classic, she fell to Francesca Jones with a scoreline of 5-7, 6-2, 4-6. However, her first-round success in Adelaide signals a positive turnaround.
Putintseva, entering the tournament as a lucky loser from the Brisbane event, also found her rhythm in Adelaide, defeating Dalma Galfi 6-4, 6-4 after winning matches against Tori Russell and Marie Bouzkova to secure a place in the main draw. The Kazakh player has struggled with consistency, finishing last season with an overall negative record, although she had a somewhat respectable 19-18 record on hard courts.
The history between the two competitors favors Navarro, who holds a 1-0 lead in their head-to-head encounters, having triumphed in a close match at the Billie Jean King Cup. This adds to her confidence as she has shown solid performances on hard courts in previous seasons, including a quarterfinal finish at both the Australian Open and the China Open in 2025.
Navarro’s current form in Adelaide and her prior experience in the tournament, having reached the quarterfinals last year, demonstrate her capability to perform under pressure. Conversely, Putintseva’s recent form and challenges getting into the main draws of WTA 500 events highlight the obstacles she faces.
Overall, predictions lean toward Navarro winning in three sets, making her the favorite as the higher-ranked player with a favorable history against her opponent. This match is poised to be an exciting contest as both players aim to solidify their form ahead of the season’s first major event.