The first WTA Premier trophy of the season is up for grabs this week at the WTA Dubai and a host of the game’s biggest stars are set to compete for it. And with the tournament now in its third day, those big-hitters will take to the court for the first-time on an action packed day, including five Grand Slam champions. But who will come through to book their place in the third round?
Petra Kvitova vs Katerina Siniakova (first on Centre Court)
Petra Kvitova, who won the Brisbane International and reached the final at the Australian Open in January, will hope to continue her excellent start to the season at the WTA Dubai. But standing between her and a place in the third round is her compatriot Katerina Siniakova, who scored an impressive 6-4 6-3 win over Petra Martic in the first round. The crafty young Czech looks to have a bright future in the game and the quick court conditions in Dubai will make her difficult to deal with. But expect Kvitova’s power to ultimately tell in the world #2’s favour.
Kvitova in three
Simona Halep vs Eugenie Bouchard (third on Centre Court)
Romania’s Simona Halep is another player enjoying a productive start to the season, although she did lose her #1 ranking to Japan’s Naomi Osaka. Nonetheless, fresh from reaching the final in Qatar, Halep will have aspirations of a big week at the WTA Dubai, where she won the title in 2015. But her second-round opponent, Eugenie Bouchard, does have experience of playing the sport at the highest-level and has beaten Halep before, in the semifinals at Wimbledon no less. But that win came nearly five years ago and their career paths have diverged significantly since.
Halep in two
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Angelique Kerber vs Dalila Jakupovic (fourth on Centre Court)
Angelique Kerber, in contrast, has made an indifferent start to the season, falling early in Sydney and Melbourne. However, she showed flashes of her best tennis in reaching the semifinals in Qatar last week. Kerber will surely hope to build on that momentum against qualifier Dalila Jakupovic of Slovenia, who scored her first win of the season in the first-round against Zarina Diyas. But she does not seem likely to claim a second against Kerber, in what will be the first meeting between the pair. Expect the three-time Grand Slam champion too prove too strong and too wily for the relatively inexperienced Slovenian.
Kerber in two
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Naomi Osaka vs Kristina Mladenovic (fifth on Centre Court)
In her first match since winning the Australian Open, Naomi Osaka, who also won the Laureus Breakthrough of the Year Award, will take on former-world #10 Kristina Mladenovic. The Frenchwoman scored a dominant 6-1 6-1 win in the first round over wildcard Fatma Al-Nabhani, who hit ten double faults, but will face a major step up in class against Osaka. The Japanese, despite splitting with her coach Sascha Bajin, looks ready to dominate the WTA Tour over the coming years. Expect her to overwhelm Mladenovic and book her place in the third round of the WTA Dubai.
Osaka in two
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