An all-American battle is set for the second round of the 2026 Abu Dhabi Open as fourth seed Emma Navarro makes her tournament debut against compatriot Hailey Baptiste on Monday, February 3. Navarro received a first-round bye, while Baptiste earned her spot with a gritty three-set victory over Teodora Kostović.
Match Details:
Date: February 3, 2026
Round: Second Round (Round of 16)
Venue: Zayed Sports City International Tennis Center, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Surface: Outdoor Hard Court
Broadcast: Tennis Channel, TSN, RDS, Sky Sports
Head-to-Head: Navarro Leads 3-1
Navarro holds a decisive edge in their previous meetings, winning their most recent encounter in straight sets at Charleston last year. This history provides a clear psychological advantage for the higher seed.
Season Form & Momentum:
Emma Navarro has experienced a mixed start to 2026. After a first-round exit in Auckland, she found rhythm with a quarterfinal run in Adelaide. However, she suffered a disappointing first-round loss at the Australian Open as a top seed. She will be eager to re-establish her form in Abu Dhabi.
Hailey Baptiste started the season with two losses but found her stride at the Australian Open, reaching the third round. There, she won the first set against world No. 3 Coco Gauff before ultimately falling, proving she can compete with the game’s elite on a big stage.
Statistical Breakdown & Prediction:
The numbers this season favor Navarro significantly:
Return Game: Navarro has won 40% of her return games in 2026, a massive advantage over Baptiste’s 11.1%.
Break Points: Navarro converts 50% of break points, compared to Baptiste’s 25%.
Serve: Navarro also leads in service games won (60% to 55.6%) and first-serve points won (64.1% to 55.6%).
Baptiste’s path to victory relies on leveraging the confident serving she displayed against Gauff and finding a way to penetrate Navarro’s defense. However, Navarro’s superior returning statistics and proven ability to win the crucial points make her the clear favorite.
Prediction: Emma Navarro’s consistent pressure from the baseline and dominant return game should dictate play. Expect her to use her head-to-head confidence and statistical edge to secure a straight-sets victory and a place in the Abu Dhabi Open quarterfinals.
