There are 12 matches scheduled on the second day of the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships and, as ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Elina Svitolina vs Anhelina Kalinina and Karolina Pliskova vs Zhang Shuai. But who will advance in the desert?
WTA Dubai Day 2 Predictions
Zhu Lin vs Anastasia Potapova
Head-to-head: Potapova 1-0 Zhu
Both players reached the second-round in Doha last week. Zhu was comprehensively beaten by last year’s Australian Open runner-up Elena Rybakina, while Potapova lost a tight battle to Karolina Pliskova. This is a tough one to call between two players who play aggressively from the baseline. It will come down to who can implement that style more effectively. Zhu gets a slight edge to do that better at the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships.
Prediction: Zhu in 3
Jelena Ostapenko vs Wang Xiyu
Head-to-head: Ostapenko 1-0 Wang
Ostapenko fell to her archenemy Victoria Azarenka in Doha last week. Incredibly, Ostapenko has lost all three matches against last year’s Australian Open semifinalist Azarenka this season, but has won her 14 other contests in 2024. Wang won both her qualifying matches in straight sets and will have some momentum. However, it is difficult to go against Ostapenko. Aside from Azarenka, she has overpowered all her opponents this season and that is likely to happen again at the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 2
Paula Badosa vs Lulu Sun
Head-to-head: First meeting
Badosa is still searching for consistency this season after returning from injury. For instance, in Doha last week, she was superb in the opening set of her second-round match with Leylah Fernandez but then swiftly lost the next two sets Nonetheless, she is the favourite to beat Lulu Sun. The Swiss player was given a wildcard into the main draw and is currently far outside the Top 100. The power of Badosa should be enough to win at the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
Daria Kasatkina vs Lucia Bronzetti
Head-to-head: First meeting
Last year’s WTA Elite trophy semifinalist Kasatkina will be far more rested for this clash than her opening match in Doha last week. She had to play against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova the day after her final appearance in Abu Dhabi, which she was understandably unhappy about. Bronzetti fought through her final match in qualifying and can be dangerous at her best. Yet, a fresh Kasatkina is capable of soaking up that pressure and digging in to win if needed at the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 3
Main photo credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
