ATP & WTA 2026 Weekly Draw Preview: Dubai, Acapulco, Santiago, Merida & Austin
LINK: ATP Dubai Draw | ATP Acapulco Draw | ATP Santiago Draw | WTA Merida Draw | WTA Austin Draw
The professional tennis calendar shifts into a fascinating mid-season crossroads this week, with three ATP tournaments across three continents and two WTA events offering contrasting conditions and competitive narratives. From desert heat in Dubai to coastal humidity in Acapulco, South American clay in Santiago, and fast-hard-court battles in North America, the upcoming draws promise intrigue, opportunity, and ranking implications across the board.
Below is a complete ATP and WTA draw preview, tournament by tournament.
ATP DRAW PREVIEW
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
Historically, Dubai has favored:
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Strong first-serve percentages
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Compact backswings
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Elite return positioning
Early rounds often produce tight scorelines, with top seeds rarely cruising. Expect dangerous floaters in the draw—players ranked outside the top 20 who excel on quick hard courts and thrive under night-session conditions.
Key storyline: With Indian Wells and Miami approaching, Dubai often serves as a momentum-builder. Players in form here tend to carry confidence into the Sunshine Double.
Official Tournament Page: https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/dubai/495/overview
Abierto Mexicano Telcel
This tournament consistently attracts:
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Explosive baseliners
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Elite returners
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Players comfortable grinding through long matches
Upsets are common, particularly in the second round, where fatigue from opening-round marathons begins to show.
Key storyline: The Acapulco draw often collapses late, creating a pathway for unseeded or lower-seeded players to reach the final weekend.
Official Tournament Page: https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/acapulco/807/overview
Chile Open
Expect success from players who:
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Use heavy topspin
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Defend well on the stretch
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Construct points patiently rather than forcing winners
Local support often fuels inspired performances, and wildcards have historically punched above their ranking in Santiago.
Key storyline: This event is critical for clay-court specialists looking to bank points before the European clay season begins.
Official Tournament Page: https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/santiago/8996/overview
WTA DRAW PREVIEW
Merida Open Akron
This tournament often sees:
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Breakthrough runs from rising players
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Tight three-set matches in early rounds
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Volatile momentum swings
Key storyline: Merida is a confidence-builder. Players who go deep here frequently carry that form into the spring hard-court stretch.
Player List & Event Info: https://www.wtatennis.com/tournaments/2085/m-rida/2026/player-list
ATX Open
Expect:
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Big serving performances
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Shorter rallies than Mérida
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Draws that open quickly
Key storyline: Austin has become a launchpad for players looking to reset their season and regain ranking traction before the larger spring events.
Official Tournament Page: https://www.wtatennis.com/tournaments/2082/austin/2026
Final Thoughts
This week’s ATP and WTA schedule captures everything compelling about professional tennis: contrast, opportunity, and momentum. Whether it’s endurance battles in Acapulco, chess-match rallies in Santiago, or fast-court aggression in Austin, each draw offers a unique pathway to success.
As the season builds toward its next major checkpoints, performances this week may prove more influential than they first appear.
