Road to mubadala abu dhabi open takes centre stage with top talents in action ahead of tournament semi-finals

• All eyes on back-to-back champion Isabelle James and Russian-born rising talent Timur Gordeev 

ABU DHABI, UAE - 06 February 2026: Away from the main-draw action, today (Friday) also features the semi-finals of the Road to Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open initiative, a Mubadala-supported grassroots development programme that provides young players from across the UAE with the opportunity to compete on the same stage as the world’s elite.

On Courts 3-6 at Zayed Sports City, there will be 12 semi-final matches today between 2-8pm involving the top male and females in the Under-12, Under-14 and Under-16 categories. The finals will take place on the iconic Stadium Court on Saturday, 7 February between 10am-2pm. 

The Road to Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open was developed with the support of Mubadala as a core pillar of the tournament’s community and legacy programmes and is fully sanctioned by the UAE Tennis Federation.

Beyond competition, the programme provides a range of incentives and development opportunities. Alongside national ranking points, the leading players in each category earn the opportunity to compete for titles at the Road to Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open finals on the centre courts at Zayed Sports City, while standout youth champions may also secure all-expenses-paid training experiences at the internationally renowned Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy in Spain, which helped develop Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz.

By integrating grassroots competition with a professional tournament environment, the initiative seeks to raise the standard of tennis in the UAE while providing aspiring players with clear pathways for development. 

An exciting talent to follow in this year’s tournament is 15-year-old Timur Gordeev. Russian-born and raised in Dubai, Gordeev secured the Under-16 Boys title for a second consecutive year in 2025, underlining his consistency and competitive credentials across the UAE and international junior circuits.

Reflecting on his experience, Gordeev said: ‘Competing in the Road to Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open was unforgettable. Being so close to the world’s top players motivates me to work harder every day.’

On the girls’ side, Bulgarian prospect Isabelle James continues to stand out. The Dubai-based 14-year-old claimed the Under-14 title in both 2024 and 2025 and will be aiming to complete a remarkable hat-trick at this year’s edition.

James said: ‘Winning the Junior Road to Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open for a second time was an unforgettable experience, made even more special by the opportunity to meet some of the world’s leading WTA players. One of the highlights was earning the chance to train at the Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy in Spain, and I am hoping to achieve another victory this year.’

Nigel Gupta, Tournament Director at Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, said: “The Road to Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open highlights the incredible depth of young tennis talent across the UAE, offering players a rare chance to compete on Stadium Court during the main tournament. Watching their skill, passion and potential is inspiring, and we are proud to play a part in their development.”

Organised by MARI in partnership with Mubadala and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open continues to blend world-class tennis with meaningful community engagement - from grassroots pathways like Road to MADO to elite competition on centre court.

Today (Friday), you’ll get the chance to enjoy the semi-finals of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, presented by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with Filipina star Alexandra Eala and Janice Tjen in action at 4pm on Stadium Court in doubles. Then in the singles, Hailey Baptiste faces Ekaterina Alexandrova, before Sara Bejlek takes on Clara Tauson to see who can book a spot in Saturday’s final. Tomorrow, the concluding day of the tournament, will also be the final of Mubadala Wheelchair Tennis Invitational presented by the WTA Foundation between World No.1 Yui Kamiji and Jiske Griffioen.