There were many upsets on the opening day at the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships and there may well be more on day two with twelve more matches on the schedule. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Daria Kasatkina vs Lucia Bronzetti and Karolina Pliskova vs Zhang Shuai. But who will advance?
WTA Dubai Day 2 Predictions
Victoria Azarenka vs Arantxa Rus
Head-to-head: first meeting
Last year’s Australian Open semifinalist Azarenka reached the quarterfinal in Doha, while Rus lost a very tight first-round match to Petra Martic. Rus is a clean ball-striker and can cause most players problems at her best. Yet, Azarenka is one of the best at nullifying that style of play. She thrives when her opponent gives her a consistent pace, and that is what Rus is likely to do. It is difficult to see anything other than an Azarenka victory at the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships.
Prediction: Azarenka in 2
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs Marie Bouzkova
Head-to-head: first meeting
It was a terrific week in Doha for Pavlyuchenkova. She reached her first WTA 1000 hard court semifinal since 2010, before falling to Elena Rybakina. However, backing it up immediately could be tough. Pavlyuchenkova did seem to be battling through tiredness and some soreness during her run in Doha. Playing against someone as gritty and consistent as Bouzkova may not be the ideal first-round match. Bouzkova to prevail in three sets at the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 3
Veronika Kudermetova vs Dayana Yastremska
Head-to-head: Kudermetova 3-0 Yastremska
This is Yastremska’s second tournament back since her stunning run to the semifinal of the Australian Open. Her last match was a 1-6 1-6 hammering in Linz against Donna Vekic. Kudermetova is seeking to respond to a first-round loss in Doha last week to Danielle Collins. The previous three meetings have all been won by Kudermetova. Yastremska’s return is not the strongest part of her game and her opponent’s strong serve has exploited that weakness. Kudermetova is a slight favourite to beat the Australian Open semifinalist again at the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 3
Elina Svitolina vs Anhelina Kalinina
Head-to-head: Svitolina 1-0 Kalinina
Hopefully, Svitolina is 100% fit for this contest. She has not played since having to retire after three games of her Australian Open fourth round match with Linda Noskova. Her compatriot Kalinina defeated Emma Raducanu in Doha last week, before falling to Jelena Ostapenko. It is a tough one to predict due to the uncertainty surrounding Svitolina in her first match back. She had been playing superb tennis before her injury, and that gives her a very small edge at the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships.
Prediction: Svitolina in 3
Main photo credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
