Tennis
2026-02-05 - Clara Tauson vs McCartney Kessler
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
Tennis : WTA 500 Abu Dhabi Quarter Final
Thursday 5th February 2025 - Scheduled 1pm
9am (British Time)
Preview
The Quarter Final Round at the WTA 500 event in Abu Dhabi that begins the Middle East swing looks wide open after Belinda Bencic was forced to withdraw from the tournament.
An illness means the defending Champion remains unbeaten in Abu Dhabi, but she cannot retain her World Ranking points, while also opening the door for the remaining eight players in the tournament.
Both Clara Tauson and McCartney Kessler have to sense an opportunity to pick up a title and some vital Ranking points- both are currently inside the top 32 of the World Rankings, which means direct entry into some of the biggest tournaments as well as being Seeded when it comes to Grand Slam tournaments. It cannot be underestimated the importance of those Seeding places early in those Slam events and both would appreciate maintaining those spots after failing to reach the second week at the Australian Open.
Neither player has dropped a set in Abu Dhabi, although it is McCartney Kessler who has had to come through two matches to reach the Quarter Final. Both wins are going to give the American confidence and she will be looking to continue to serve well, especially on the second serve, to try and keep the pressure on all those who stand across the net.
This is also going to be a key part of Clara Tauson's game after a dominant opening win.
Her first serve has done more damage compared with McCartney Kessler's, but Tauson can sometimes be put under a bit more pressure when throwing in too many second serves.
However, that first serve has been a big enough weapon to put Clara Tauson to win a lot more matches than she loses and it is going to be the key to the outcome of this Quarter Final.
Neither player can really state they have been as effective on the return of serve as they would have wanted to be when it comes to play hard court tennis. That does put more pressure on the delivery to make sure the scoreboard does not get away from them, and it is Clara Tauson who has tended to have a slightly superior return game of the two players.
There is not going to be much in this match with both capable of taking the racquet out of the hands of the other behind a strong serve.
You just have to believe a bit more in the experience of Clara Tauson as long as she can get around 62% of her first serves in play- she was very good in the Second Round win, but an average of around 60% over the course of the last twelve months may still be good enough to edge past McCartney Kessler as the narrow favourite in this Quarter Final.
Prediction
The winner of this one may feel they can pick up the WTA 500 title here in Abu Dhabi, which could be a boost for their respective careers.
This Quarter Final is expected to be close and competitive, but Clara Tauson's superior first serve may end up making a telling difference.
The Pick :
Clara Tauson 2-1 McCartney Kessler
