Laykold continues to set the pace at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open
WTA 500 tournament a celebration of breakthroughs and consistency.
The 2026 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open delivered a week of crowd-pleasing tennis, breakthrough performances and a fitting start to a landmark season for Laykold, as the surface provider celebrates its centenary year.
Staged from February 1-7 at the impressive Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre, the WTA 500 event once again set the tone for the Middle East Swing. For the third consecutive year, Laykold courts were at the heart of the action, this time with a special “100 Years of Laykold” stencil adorning the surface, complemented by an on-screen birthday tribute, commemorative commentary moments and even a cake!
On court, the standout story belonged to 20-year-old Czech qualifier Sara Bejlek. Ranked No. 101 at the start of the week, Bejlek produced a gutsy run to claim her first WTA Tour title. She notched the first two top-20 victories of her career, defeating Clara Tauson and tournament No. 2 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the semi-finals and final respectively. After edging a tight first-set tiebreak in the championship match, Bejlek accelerated through the second set to secure a straight-sets victory and complete one of the most impressive runs in the tournament’s history.
“For the third consecutive year, Laykold courts were at the heart of the action, this time with a special “100 Years of Laykold” stencil adorning the surface”
Behind the scenes, precision was paramount. Abu Dhabi’s desert climate presents unique challenges, with atmospheric sand and dry conditions influencing play. Laykold’s surface was specifically tailored for the venue, using a carefully calibrated blend of sand to lock in the tournament’s required medium pace rating, accurate to within half a point. The angular composition of the sand grains and their interaction within the acrylic layers help regulate friction between ball and court, mitigating the impact of windborne dust while ensuring consistency for players.
Tournament Director Nigel Gupta highlighted the value of that partnership: “Laykold’s striving for innovation is a key factor to our relationship with them. Working collaboratively to raise the bar each year is important to us. Their ability to combine technological advancement with pace precision is incredibly valuable.”
With Abu Dhabi complete, attention now turns to the Sunshine Swing at Indian Wells Open and the Miami Open in the US, before the summer hard-court season culminates at the US Open – and all played on Laykold. Laykold’s centenary celebrations are only just getting started!