Ekaterina Alexandrova and Sara Bejlek secured their places in the Abu Dhabi final on Friday after hard-fought semifinal victories. Alexandrova overcame Hailey Baptiste by 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-3, while Bejlek defeated Clara Tauson 7-5, 3-6, 7-5. The final will take place on Saturday at 5:00 pm on Stadium Court.
Details of the Semifinal Encounters
In the first semifinal, world number 11 Ekaterina Alexandrova staged a comeback after dropping the first set against Hailey Baptiste, ranked 56th globally. The match was tightly contested, with Alexandrova prevailing in a second-set tiebreak before closing out with a 6-3 final set.
Meanwhile, Sara Bejlek, ranked 101, went toe-to-toe with world number 16 Clara Tauson in a marathon three-setter. Bejlek emerged victorious by eking out narrow wins in the first and third sets, both finishing 7-5, to secure her spot in the final.
Alexandrova’s 2026 Season and Career Highlights
Ekaterina Alexandrova’s performance in Abu Dhabi marks the best result of her 2026 season so far, improving her 4-3 match record this year. Prior to this tournament, her last match was her semifinal win over Baptiste on February 6. Over her career, the Russian has collected five titles—including two on hard courts, one indoors, and two on grass.
Alexandrova’s upcoming final against Bejlek will be their first meeting at a top-level event, making Saturday’s match a fresh challenge for both competitors.
Sara Bejlek’s Rising Form in 2026
Sara Bejlek has had a productive start to 2026, boasting a 7-2 win-loss record before her semifinal victory over Tauson. The Czech‘s performance in Abu Dhabi represents her best achievement this season. The final against Alexandrova presents an opportunity for Bejlek to further establish her presence on the wider tour.
Review of Baptiste and Tauson’s Seasons
Hailey Baptiste, who reached the semifinals before losing narrowly to Alexandrova, holds a 5-4 match record for 2026. The Abu Dhabi tournament stands as her strongest performance this year. On the other hand, Clara Tauson, currently ranked 16th, has posted an even 4-4 record this season. Her defeat to Bejlek ended her run in Abu Dhabi, where she had also achieved her best result so far.
Tauson’s next scheduled match is against world number 40 Katerina Siniakova in the first round of an upcoming tournament, where Siniakova leads their head-to-head series 1-0.
Summary of Abu Dhabi Semifinal Scores
- Ekaterina Alexandrova def. Hailey Baptiste 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-3
- Sara Bejlek def. Clara Tauson 7-5, 3-6, 7-5
Preview of the Abu Dhabi Final Matchup
The Abu Dhabi final scheduled for Saturday will feature Ekaterina Alexandrova, ranked 11th, against Sara Bejlek, ranked 101st. This will be their first encounter at this level, adding an element of unpredictability to the contest. The winner will claim a significant milestone in their 2026 season and gain momentum on the tour.
“Ekaterina Alexandrova will face the world no.101 Sara Bejlek in the final on Saturday at 5:00 pm on STADIUM COURT. In the past, they have never competed against each other so far in top events.” ?seedraw
“Sara Bejlek will take on the world no.11 Ekaterina Alexandrova in the final on Saturday at 5:00 pm on STADIUM COURT. They have never played each other until now on the main tour.” ?seedraw
