Defending champion Leylah Fernandez begins her WTA Washington Mubadala DC Open title protection towards Poland’s Magda Linette. That is certainly one of six matches slated for the opening day of the 2026 version. We additionally predict the (*1*) in a separate article, together with Madison Keys vs Liudmila Samsonova. Who will advance to the following spherical?
WTA Washington Day 1 Predictions
Elisabetta Cocciaretto vs Clara Tauson
Head-to-head: Tauson 1-0 Cocciaretto
Fitness has been the main reason behind concern for Clara Tauson this season. However, she regarded sharp in Athens, the place she made the semifinals and misplaced to eventual champion Barbora Krejcikova. When wholesome, the Dane is among the most harmful hard-court gamers on tour. Cocciaretto is a gritty counterpuncher, however she lacks constant firepower to go toe-to-toe with Tauson within the quick-playing circumstances in D.C.
Prediction: Tauson in 2
Janice Tjen vs Rebecca Sramkova
Head-to-head: first assembly
Tjen has loved a fast rise and is now inside six spots of being seeded on the US Open. But her present rating is constructed on the factors she accrued throughout her breakout run to the Sao Paulo last final yr and successful a few 125K tournaments in direction of the top of the season. Sramkova hasn’t precisely set the tour alight in 2026, however she’s received extra matches and had a robust qualifying marketing campaign in Washington. The Slovenian ought to have sufficient firepower to cruise into the following spherical.
Prediction: Sramkova in 2
Leylah Fernandez vs Magda Linette
Head-to-head: Fernandez 3-1 Linette
Fernandez received this match towards all the percentages 12 months in the past. But she couldn’t have requested for a trickier task to start her title protection. Magda Linette has stretched the Canadian to 3 units in three of their 4 conferences. That stated, Fernandez typically raises her degree in North America, and her superior motion ought to make the distinction.
Prediction: Fernandez in 3
Main Photo Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
