Wheelchair tennis makes historic debut, quarter-finals conclude and eala/tjen advance at mubadala abu dhabi open

• Tauson, Bejlek, Alexandrova and Baptiste secure semi-final spots
• Tournament becomes first standalone WTA event to feature wheelchair tennis
• Eala and Tjen reach doubles semi-finals

ABU DHABI, UAE – 05 February 2026:  Thursday delivered a landmark day at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, presented by Aby Dhabi Sports Council, as wheelchair tennis made its groundbreaking debut alongside a decisive quarter-final sweep that saw Clara Tauson, Sara Bejlek, Ekaterina Alexandrova and Hailey Baptiste all advance to the semi-finals.

Tauson advanced over McCartney Kessler in an impressive performance, while Czech qualifier Bejlek dropped just two games to dispatch British No. 2 Sonay Kartal. Alexandrova, the highest seed remaining in the tournament, ended Alexandra Eala's run in straight sets, before Baptiste overcame Liudmila Samsonova in three sets.

“McCartney played some good tennis, but I also played well,” said Tauson. “She was hitting some very good winners, but I kept my cool, kept fighting and that helped me a lot today. It’s great to be in the semi-finals.” 

In the doubles semi-final on ADCB Court 1, Eala and Janice Tjen delivered an impressive performance in front of packed crowds, defeating Cristina Bucşa and Shuai Zhang in straight sets. 

"We were trying to be aggressive and have fun," said Eala. "When you have a good relationship with your partner, you're not afraid to go with your gut. If you make errors, it's okay because you have that chemistry and you're willing to try what feels right."

Away from the main draw action, history was made as the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open launched its inaugural Mubadala Wheelchair Tennis Invitational presented by the WTA Foundation, becoming the first standalone WTA event to feature wheelchair tennis. 

The groundbreaking three-player tournament saw wheelchair tennis legend Jiske Griffioen of the Netherlands defeat María Angélica Bernal of Colombia in today's opening match, securing her place in Saturday's final against World No. 1 Yui Kamiji of Japan.

Off the court, the day delivered inspiring moments for fans and the community. Wheelchair tennis stars Griffioen, Bernal and Kamiji hosted a clinic with Heroes of Hope - the UAE's non-profit sports academy for people of determination - bringing kids onto the court in an unforgettable experience that embodied the tournament's commitment to inclusivity. Slovak star Tereza Mihalikova spent time with schoolchildren, signing autographs and taking photos, while Bejlek engaged with fans through an exclusive Q&A at the Mubadala Hospitality Pavilion.

Nigel Gupta, Tournament Director at MARI, said: "Today has been historic for wheelchair tennis. The inaugural invitational has already captured the imagination, and having Yui and Jiske heading to Saturday's final showcases the extraordinary level of this sport. Alongside that, the quarter-finals produced the kind of brilliant tennis we expect at this level, setting up compelling semi-finals matchups tomorrow in both the singles and doubles."

Tomorrow (Friday, 6 February) promises an action-packed schedule as the semi-finals take shape. On Stadium Court, the doubles semi-final gets underway at 4pm with Mihalikova and Nicholls facing Eala and Tjen. At 6pm, Baptiste takes on Alexandrova in a singles semi-final, followed at 8pm by Bejlek clashing with Tauson. On ADCB Court 1 not before 7pm, Sofia Kenin and Desirae Krawczyk battle Alexandrova and Maya Joint in the other doubles semi-final.

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.

Tickets are available now at Platinumlist

Results - Thursday, Feb 5
QF - A. Eala (PHI) / J. Tjen (INA) d. [2] C. Bucsa (ESP) / S. Zhang (CHN) 63 63
QF - [Q] S. Bejlek (CZE) d. [Q] S. Kartal (GBR) 60 62
QF - [3] C. Tauson (DEN) d. M. Kessler (USA) 63 64
QF - [WC] H. Baptiste (USA) d. [5] L. Samsonova 62 46 64
QF - [2] E. Alexandrova d. A. Eala (PHI) 63 63