U16 Cranleigh Tournament, Abu Dhabi — Day 3 Analysis and Sunday Order of Play

Tournament Overview

The U16 Cranleigh tournament in Abu Dhabi is underway from February 20 to March 1, 2026, featuring a Boys singles event on hard courts with the Prince official ball. The main draw accommodates 16 players, following an 8-player qualifying phase. Entry fee is AED 185. Full details and live updates are available on the official page: Tournament Link.

• City: Abu Dhabi
• Surface: Hard
• Draw sizes: 16 (Main) / 8 (Qualifying)
• Ball: Prince
• Category: Boys Singles
• Format notes: Match tiebreaks used where applicable

What Happened So Far

Following a bye for Adam Poppe (PLA) and multiple early walkovers, the field quickly condensed to eight. The round of 16 saw four walkovers and three completed matches, while the quarterfinals produced four on-court results, including a dramatic match tiebreak. Notable momentum lines: Edward Abou Jaoude (SAM) has not dropped a set; Damian Smith (IND) posted a pair of dominant scorelines; Lorenzo Minuti (ZAY) survived a deciding tiebreak; and Adam Poppe (PLA) settled into rhythm after his opening bye.

Quarterfinal Recap

• Adam Poppe (PLA) def. Ansh Vyas (IND) 75, 61 a steady lift in first-serve percentage powered Poppe past a competitive opening set.
• Edward Abou Jaoude (SAM) def. James Corney (TPS) 62, 64 controlled baseline exchanges and converted key return games late in each set.
• Lorenzo Minuti (ZAY) def. Selcuk Kaan Yazici (SAM) 26, 63, 108 Minuti flipped the pattern with deeper, higher-spinning replies to edge the match tiebreak.
• Damian Smith (IND) def. Sai Anish Reddy Ettireddi (ZAY) 60, 60 clean first-strike tennis and aggressive court positioning throughout.

Round of 16 Highlights

• Abou Jaoude def. Andrija Mihajlovic (IND) 63, 60
• Smith def. Marat Feyzulin (PRO) 60, 76(2)
• Ettireddi def. Mohamed Alotaiba (PLA) 62, 62
• Walkovers: Vyas over Labib; Corney over Kuzurman; Yazici over Alan Senan (UAE); Minuti over Rehaan Nandi. Poppe received a bye.

Semifinal Lineup

Set for Sunday, February 22, 2026:

1. Adam Poppe (PLA) vs Edward Abou Jaoude (SAM) Power-serve plus forehand pattern from Poppe against Abou Jaoudes compact returns and depth control.
2. Lorenzo Minuti (ZAY) vs Damian Smith (IND) Minutis resilience and shape versus Smiths pace and early contact.

Today  Sunday, February 22, 2026  Order of Play

Note: The official daily schedule is subject to on-site adjustments. The matchups below reflect the published draw. Please check the official tournament page for confirmed start times.

Scheduling Advisory

Expected heat and court pace favor proactive first strikes and efficient holds. Players should manage recovery windows carefully between warm-up and match start.

Keys to Watch

1. First-serve efficiency: Especially critical for Poppe and Smith to dictate early in rallies.
2. Return depth and direction: Abou Jaoudes ability to neutralize plus-one patterns could tilt momentum.
3. Shot tolerance under pressure: Minutis tiebreak poise versus Smiths forehand aggression.

Semifinalists  Paths to the Last Four

Local Spotlight

Alan Senan (UAE) exited via walkover in the round of 16. His growing presence on the UAE junior circuit remains noteworthy; expect a return later in the season with valuable lessons from this weeks preparation block.

Quick Stats and Trends

Analysts Note

The hard-court pace and the Prince ball have rewarded early contact and linear hitting. Expect service holds to feature prominently in both semifinals, with return depth and second-serve pressure as decisive swing factors.