Belinda Bencic vs Sonay Kartal Prediction & Picks - Abu Dhabi Open
WTA - Abu Dhabi Open
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by Bradley Gibbs | in Tennis Picks
At the WTA event in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, Belinda Bencic will get back down to business for the first time since losing at the Australian Open a fortnight ago. Now ranked at number nine in the world, the Swiss player is up against Sonay Kartal, who is in hot form. Bencic is a top performer on her day, there can be no denying that, but she didn't look overly comfortable when we last saw her, while she's won just one of her last three in straight sets, so this may not be super easy for the two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist.
For Kartal, this is a big opportunity to show what she's all about. The 24-year-old impressed at times last season, and this time around, she'll be looking to show that she can really challenge the top players. She's played three matches at this tournament already, winning all three without dropping a set, beating a slightly higher-ranked player in decisive fashion during the first round. That effort should mean that she comes into this match feeling confident.
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Belinda Bencic vs Sonay Kartal Form
Belinda Bencic and Sonay Kartal Latest Matches
5/6 (83%)
1/6 (17%)
Jan 22, 2026 - WTA Australian Open
Jan 20, 2026 - WTA Australian Open
Jan 11, 2026 - United Cup
Jan 9, 2026 - United Cup
Jan 7, 2026 - United Cup
Jan 4, 2026 - United Cup
4/6 (67%)
2/6 (33%)
Feb 2, 2026 - Abu Dhabi Open
Feb 1, 2026 - Abu Dhabi Open
Jan 31, 2026 - Abu Dhabi Open
Jan 19, 2026 - WTA Australian Open
Jan 9, 2026 - ASB Classic
Jan 8, 2026 - ASB Classic
Belinda Bencic - Sonay Kartal Key Points
- Sonay Kartal has already played three matches in Abu Dhabi.
- This will be Belinda Bencic's first match of the tournament.
- Belinda Bencic has only won one of her last three matches in straight sets.
- In 2026, Sonay Kartal has only lost one out of seven matches in straight sets.
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Our Belinda Bencic vs Sonay Kartal Prediction
Facing Belinda Bencic is not easy, let's be honest, but there are a few reasons as to why Sonay Kartal could easily outplay her early odds and give the Swiss player a real test on Wednesday. Firstly, the British competitor has had the benefit of playing three matches in Abu Dhabi, so she ought to have a preparation edge. She's yet to drop a set at this tournament, which also bodes well.
This will be Belinda Bencic's first match of the tournament, while the world number nine wasn't exactly at her best when we last saw her, losing to young up-and-comer Nikola Bartunkova at the Australian Open. Off the back of that, she may find it hard to completely dominate a player who has recently delivered some strong performances against players who aren't far off Bencic in terms of level.
Our Belinda Bencic vs Sonay Kartal Pick: Sonay Kartal +1.5 Set Handicap.
All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
