The inaugural Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open reaches its conclusion on Sunday evening when Belinda Bencic and Liudmila Samsonova contest the final at Zayed Sports City.
Here is a look at both players, how they reached the final, and a prediction for who will clinch the title.
Belinda Bencic
The Swiss second seed was among the favourites for the title from the start and she has made good on that status with an impressive tournament so far. Bencic, 25, is all too familiar with success in the UAE having won the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title in 2019, which ended a near four-year trophy drought.
That long wait between trophies can be largely attributed to a long-term wrist injury which meant a prodigiously talented Bencic - she reached the US Open quarter-finals at the age of 17 - needed to rebuild her career.
The winner of seven WTA Tour titles and with a career-high ranking of No 2, achieved in February 2022, the highlight of Bencic's career so far came in the summer of 2021 when she won singles Olympic gold in Tokyo.
Bencic has started this season well, with a title at the Adelaide International, although she only reached the second round of the Australian Open.
Abu Dhabi will be Bencic's 18th WTA final.
Route to Abu Dhabi final
First round - Bye
Second round - beat Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 75
Quarter-finals - beat Shelby Rogers 7-6, 6-2
Semi-finals - beat Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-2, 6-3
Liudmila Samsonova
Since competing full time on the WTA Tour at the start of the 2019 season, Samsonova enjoyed a steady rise and won her first title in June 2021 at the German Open, beating, incidentally, Bencic in the final.
Last year, though, was a true breakout season for the Russian, who won another three tournaments to rise to a career-high No 19 in the rankings, a position she still holds.
Prior to her run to the Abu Dhabi final, it had been a slow start to the year, with early exits at both Adelaide Internationals and a second-round defeat at the Australian Open.
Samsonova, 24, is yet to make a deep run at one of the four Grand Slam events, with a pair of fourth rounds (Wimbledon 2021 and US Open 2022) her best showings so far.
However, she does have a perfect record in WTA Tour finals: four finals, four titles.
Route to Abu Dhabi final
First round - beat Claire Liu 3-6, 6-2, 6-0
Second round - beat Barbora Krejcikova 7-5, 7-6
Quarter-finals - beat Veronika Kudermetova 6-3, 6-3
Semi-finals - beat Qinwen Zheng 6-4, 1-6, 6-4
Head-to-head record
Samsonova has dominated her rivalry with Bencic, winning all three of their previous meetings. The first came in that German Cup final on grass in June 2021, with Samsonova claiming a 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory.
The pair met again three months later on an indoor hard court in the Luxembourg Open quarter-finals, Samsonova earning a comfortable 6-1, 6-4 win.
Their most recent meeting came at the Billie Jean King Cup in November 2021, when Samsonova defeated Bencic 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the final to help Russia beat Switzerland and clinch the title. That match also took place on an indoor hard court.
Final schedule
The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open singles final will take place not before 5pm. The doubles final will kick off the action at 3pm.
Final tickets
Most of the tickets for the final have been sold, although official provider ticketmaster.ae still has a few courtside tickets remaining. These tickets cost Dh1295.
Final prediction
A very tough one to call. On one side, Bencic is the higher-ranked and more experienced player with recent title success in the UAE who has a title to her name already this season. On the other, Samsonova has two crucial faultless records: one in finals, the other against Bencic.
This match looks poised to go three sets, with Bencic to finally end her losing run against Samsonova.
Quick%20facts
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
RESULTS
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Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
The%20specs
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Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
Read more about the coronavirus
Company%20profile
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The%C2%A0specs%20
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FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Abu Dhabi GP starting grid
1 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
3 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
4 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
5 Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
6 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
7 Romain Grosjean (Haas)
8 Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
9 Esteban Ocon (Force India)
10 Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
11 Carlos Sainz (Renault)
12 Marcus Ericsson (Sauber)
13 Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
14 Sergio Perez (Force India)
15 Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
16 Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
17 Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
18 Stoffe Vandoorne (McLaren)
19 Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)
20 Lance Stroll (Williams)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday Stuttgart v Cologne (Kick-off 10.30pm UAE)
Saturday RB Leipzig v Hertha Berlin (5.30pm)
Mainz v Borussia Monchengladbach (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Union Berlin v SC Freiburg (5.30pm)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (5.30pm)
Sunday Wolfsburg v Arminia (6.30pm)
Werder Bremen v Hoffenheim (9pm)
Bayer Leverkusen v Augsburg (11.30pm)
TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Malin Cilic (CRO) v Benoit Paire (FRA) [8]
Not before 4pm:
Dan Evans (GBR) v Fabio Fogini (ITA) [4]
Not before 7pm:
Pablo Carreno Busta (SPA) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [2]
Roberto Bautista Agut (SPA) [5] v Jan-Lennard Struff (GER)
Court One
Starting at 2pm
Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND) v Dennis Novak (AUT)
Joao Sousa (POR) v Filip Krajinovic (SRB)
Not before 5pm:
Rajeev Ram (USA) and Joe Salisbury (GBR) [1] v Marin Cilic v Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Nikoloz Basilashvili v Ricardas Berankis (LTU)
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
The Little Things
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
Starring: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto
Four stars
