Samsonova vs Fernandez: 2026 Dubai Tennis Championships First Round Preview & Prediction
Liudmila Samsonova is set to face Leylah Fernandez in the first round of the 2026 Dubai Tennis Championships. This matchup will take place at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre in Dubai, UAE, on outdoor hard courts.
Match Details
- Event: Dubai Tennis Championships (WTA 1000)
- Date: February 15, 2026
- Venue: Aviation Club Tennis Centre, Dubai, UAE
- Surface: Outdoor hard
How to Watch
- UK: Sky Sports Tennis
- USA: Tennis Channel
- Online UK: Sky Go
- Online USA: Tennis Channel
Player Performance
Liudmila Samsonova has struggled to find her footing this season. She did manage to reach the quarter-finals at the Abu Dhabi Open, recording two consecutive wins before being eliminated by Hailey Baptiste. However, her performance at the Doha tournament was disappointing, as she lost early to Magdalena Frech.
Conversely, Leylah Fernandez has also faced challenges in recent matches. The Canadian has secured only one win out of six contests this season. She was knocked out in the first round of the Australian Open by Janice Tjen and fell to Ann Li in straight sets at the Qatar Open.
Head-to-Head and Prediction
In their previous encounters, Samsonova leads Fernandez 2-1. Notably, their record on outdoor hard courts is tied at 1-1. Samsonova is expected to be the favorite in this matchup, given her recent performances compared to Fernandez’s struggles.
The prediction for this first-round match favors Liudmila Samsonova to claim victory over Leylah Fernandez.
