Wakana Sonobe defeated Yue Yuan 6–4, 6–3 in the first round of the WTA 250 event in Abu Dhabi on hard court. The result constituted an upset, as Yuan entered as the pre-match favourite at odds of 1.49 to Sonobe's 2.76. Sonobe's dominant display across both sets, particularly her control in the second, proved decisive against her seeded opponent. The Japanese player's clinical performance suggests she has found early-season form at a prestigious Gulf venue, while Yuan's first-round exit marks a disappointing start to her campaign.