Three Finals, One Saturday: WTA Tour Delivers High-Stakes Drama Across the Globe
It’s early February, but the WTA Tour is already heating up with a triple-header of finals this Saturday that promises everything from rising stars to veteran grit. Across Abu Dhabi, Cluj-Napoca, and Ostrava, three tournaments are serving up compelling storylines, emotional comebacks, and career-defining opportunities - all in one day, with 1,000 ranking points on the line.
Let’s break down what’s at stake.
Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open
**No.
2 Ekaterina Alexandrova vs. Qualifier Sara Bejlek**
📍 *5 p.m. local / 1 p.m. GMT / 8 a.m.
ET*
Head-to-head: 0-0
Ekaterina Alexandrova is no stranger to the big stage - this is her 13th career final - but she had to dig deep to get here. Down a set and facing match point in the second against Hailey Baptiste, Alexandrova mounted a gritty comeback to win 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-3. It was a survival act more than a statement win, but it showed the kind of resilience that separates contenders from champions.
“I really thought it was over,” Alexandrova admitted after the match. “But I’m super happy I could get past two sets. It feels amazing.”
Waiting for her in the final is 20-year-old Czech qualifier Sara Bejlek, who’s been on a tear this week - and not just in terms of results. This will be her seventh match in eight days, and she’s been playing like someone who doesn’t know the meaning of fatigue. After battling through qualifying, Bejlek has taken down some serious names: Ashlyn Krueger, No. 7 seed Jelena Ostapenko, Sonay Kartal, and most recently No. 3 seed Clara Tauson in a 2-hour, 49-minute thriller.
That win over Tauson marked Bejlek’s first career victory over a Top 20 opponent. Now, she’s got a shot at a second - and her first WTA title.
“I’m out of all emotions because that was a roller coaster,” Bejlek said after her semifinal win. “Of course I’m a bit tired, but tomorrow is the last game. Actually, when I’m winning, the recovery is faster.”
This final is a classic contrast: the experienced, steady-handed Alexandrova versus the fearless, free-swinging Bejlek. One chasing another title, the other chasing her first. Don’t be surprised if this one goes the distance.
Transylvania Open
**No.
1 Emma Raducanu vs. No.
3 Sorana Cirstea**
📍 *4:30 p.m. local / 2:30 p.m.
GMT / 9:30 a.m. ET*
It’s a final with heartstrings attached in Cluj-Napoca, where both finalists share Romanian roots and a whole lot of emotional weight.
Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, is back in a final for the first time in five years. And she had to earn every bit of it.
Her 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 win over Oleksandra Oliynykova was a physical and emotional grind, clocking in at nearly three hours. It also snapped a streak of six consecutive three-set losses.
“It was a brutal match,” Raducanu said. “Ollie, what a competitor.
It’s a really emotional feeling - I haven’t been in the final for five years. The great work I’ve done in the past six months is really coming together.”
She did call for the trainer during the match and admitted the recovery challenge ahead.
“I’m not used to playing four matches in a row,” she said. “For me, that’s an incredible thing. It just comes with the territory... a bit of wear and tear.”
Across the net stands Sorana Cirstea, 35 years old and in the final stretch of her career - she’s already announced this will be her final season. But she’s not just playing out the string. Cirstea has been locked in all week, and her 6-0, 6-3 demolition of qualifier Daria Snigur in the semis was a statement.
“This week has been a dream come true,” Cirstea said. “I will remember this for the rest of my life.”
With the crowd likely split between two hometown favorites, this final has the feel of a celebration - but don’t mistake that for a lack of intensity. For Raducanu, it’s a chance to prove the comeback is real. For Cirstea, it’s about making one more memory before the curtain closes.
Ostrava Open
**Katie Boulter vs.
Tamara Korpatsch**
📍 *4 p.m. local / 3 p.m.
GMT / 10 a.m. ET*
Head-to-head: 0-0
In Ostrava, the stakes are a little different - but no less meaningful. Neither Katie Boulter nor Tamara Korpatsch is currently ranked inside the Top 100, but that’s about to change. The winner of this match will leap into the mid-80s in the rankings come Monday, a significant career milestone for both.
Boulter, ranked No. 120, has had a strong week, dropping just one set in four matches. Her semifinal win over Katie Volynets - a commanding 6-1, 6-3 performance - was her most complete showing yet.
“I think this week for me has been about trying to build momentum,” Boulter said. “After a tough year last year, it’s exactly the start I needed.”
She’s been open about needing to get her body back into the rhythm of tournament play, and so far, she’s done just that.
On the other side, Korpatsch, ranked No. 124, has also found her groove. She took out Diane Parry 6-4, 6-4 in the semis, saving six of nine break points and showing the kind of composure that’s often the difference in tight matches.
This final is less about headlines and more about hard-earned opportunity. For both players, a win here could be the springboard to a bigger 2026.
Final Thoughts
Three finals. Three countries.
Three very different storylines - but all with the kind of stakes that make February tennis feel like Grand Slam season. Whether it’s a young upstart chasing her first title, a former major champ rebuilding her path, or veterans making one last push, Saturday’s WTA action is packed with meaning.
Set your alarms. This is one of those days where the WTA calendar reminds us why we watch - and why every match, no matter the month, can be a turning point.