Leylah Fernandez defeated Julia Grabher 6–4, 6–2 in the first round of the Dubai WTA 1000 event on hard court on 19 February 2023, as the heavy favourite. Grabher, an unseeded Austrian qualifier, offered limited resistance as Fernandez controlled the match with relative ease, taking both sets without significant pressure. The Canadian's dominance aligned with pre-match expectations, with odds heavily favouring her at 1.09 compared to Grabher's 9.06. The straightforward victory saw Fernandez advance cleanly through the opening round, maintaining momentum in her campaign at one of the tour's premier hard-court events.