Day 1 Analysis: TUSA Tennis Girls U14 Championships Launch in Dubai
Date:
09/01/2026Day 1 Analysis: TUSA Tennis Girls U14 Championships Launch in Dubai
The TUSA Tennis Girls U14 Championships open today in Dubai with a 16-player main draw and a 32-player qualifying draw on hard courts, using Head balls. Here is the tournament overview and Friday’s order of play, including an early walkover that sends Miraaya Thimaya to the quarterfinals.
Dubai welcomes the opening day of the TUSA Tennis Girls U14 Championships, a UAE Tennis Federation-sanctioned event bringing together rising talent for ten days of competition. With a 16-player main draw and a 32-player qualifying field, Friday sets the tone for an action-packed first weekend.
Tournament Overview
| Event | TUSA Tennis Girls U14 Championships |
| City | Dubai |
| Dates | January 9–18, 2026 |
| Age Group | Girls U14 |
| Surface | Hard |
| Main Draw Size | 16 |
| Qualifying Draw Size | 32 |
| Entry Fee | 105 |
| Prize | Trophies + Medals + Goodies |
| Official Ball | Head |
| Hospitality | None |
| Official Hotel | Mövenpick Grand Al Bustan Dubai |
| Info | Tournament Page |
Field at a Glance
The main draw features several highly ranked juniors, with a blend of regional standouts and international representation.
- Nour Ben Mlouka (Rank #4, Italy)
- Yashvii BHATIA (Rank #6)
- Uchechukwu UZOKWE (Rank #10)
- Chinemerem UZOKWE (Rank #12)
- Miraaya THIMAYA (Rank #16)
- Cleopatra CARNES (Rank #19)
- Pakhi SHAH (Rank #22)
- Ailin TURDIEVA (Rank #26)
Draw Dynamics and Early Development
Day 1 begins with Round of 16 ties. Notably, Miraaya THIMAYA advanced by walkover against Melissa TATLIEVA, placing the Rank #16 into the quarterfinal bracket early. The remainder of the Round of 16 is set to establish quarterfinal matchups by the weekend.
Logistics and Conditions
Matches are staged on hard courts with the Head official ball. Players and families are hosted at the Mövenpick Grand Al Bustan Dubai. Hospitality is listed as None, with event operations centralized on-site in Dubai.
What to Watch on Day 1
- Top-tier tests: Can Rank #4 Nour Ben Mlouka translate status into a smooth opening win?
- Sibling storyline: Both Uchechukwu and Chinemerem UZOKWE face tricky Round of 16 assignments in opposite halves.
- Seeding stability: With several ranked contenders in action, early upsets would reshape the quarterfinal picture.
Order of Play — Friday, January 9, 2026
Note: Court assignments and exact start times are to be announced on-site by the referee. Order below reflects listed Round of 16 pairings; scheduling remains subject to change.
| Round | Match | Status / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| R16 | Yashvii BHATIA (#6) vs Riddhima THAKUR (#60) | TBA |
| R16 | Enya VELIK (#50) vs Alexia MARQUEZ (NR) | TBA |
| R16 | Uchechukwu UZOKWE (#10) vs Emilia BALKANYI (#60) | TBA |
| R16 | Melissa TATLIEVA (NR) vs Miraaya THIMAYA (#16) | Walkover — Miraaya THIMAYA advances to QF |
| R16 | Cleopatra CARNES (#19) vs Elizaveta KOROBOVA (NR) | TBA |
| R16 | Pakhi SHAH (#22) vs Chinemerem UZOKWE (#12) | TBA |
| R16 | Lola-rose NOBLE (NR) vs Hibah AHMED ALI (NR) | TBA |
| R16 | Ailin TURDIEVA (#26) vs Nour Ben Mlouka (#4) | TBA |
For live updates, draws, and any changes to the schedule, follow the official tournament page. The UAE Tennis Federation will post confirmed court orders and times on-site throughout the day.