Newly crowned world #1 Naomi Osaka fell 3-6 3-6 to Kristina Mladenovic of France in a shocking second-round upset yesterday at the WTA Dubai. But that has surely left what was already a field packed with talent feeling that a chance is in the air. But it was also a match that showed just how competitive the WTA tour is and that every player is vulnerable. Who will come through to reach the quarterfinals?
Petra Kvitova vs Jennifer Brady (first on Centre Court)
Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic will feel that she has the quality to come through the WTA Dubai draw unscathed. She already has one title to her name after winning the Sydney International, a result she backed up by reaching the Australian Open final, where she lost narrowly to Osaka. Her third-round opponent is qualifier Jennifer Brady, who scored fine wins over Jelena Ostapenko and Caroline Garcia to reach this stage. Kvitova was also made to work hard for victory over Katerina Siniakova. But she found her best tennis when she needed it, winning 6-7 6-4 6-4. Expect more of the same.
Kvitova in three
Simona Halep vs Lesia Tsurenko (second on Centre Court)
World #2 Simona Halep had to overcome a tricky opening test in the shape of Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard. The Romanian had just enough to win through in straight sets, 7-6 6-4, but may need to be at her best against Lesia Tsurenko. The Ukrainian battled impressively to best Zhu Lin of China 6-4 6-7 6-3 and book her place in the last 16. That being said, Tsurenko has never beaten Halep. Indeed, she has won just one set in six meetings with the reigning French Open champion. Clearly this is a match up Halep enjoys. Expect her to inflict another defeat on Tsurenko.
Halep in two
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Elina Svitolina vs Garbine Muguruza (fifth on Centre Court)
In surely the most intriguing match of the third round, world #7 Elina Svitolina will take on Spanish former world #1 Garbine Muguruza. Svitolina is in fine form after reaching the semifinals at the Qatar Open, where she took Halep the distance in a high-quality match. But Muguruza looks to be building on a solid start to the season and impressed in wins over Dayana Yastremska and Zheng Saisai. But Svitolina has a narrow lead in their head-to-head and Muguruza has looked a little short on confidence in recent times. That could prove her undoing in Dubai.
Svitolina in three
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Aryna Sabalenka vs Belinda Bencic (sixth on Centre Court)
Belarusian eighth seed Aryna Sabalenka has rather gone under the radar so far in Dubai. But that will surely suit Sabalenka just fine, after the pre-tournament buzz around her at the Australian Open failed to turn into a big result. Belinda Bencic knows something about the glare of the spotlight and its attendant struggles herself. But both are also superb tennis players on their day and a thrilling match could be in score. Sabalenka did, however, dominate their only previous meeting, trashing the Swiss 6-2 6-2 in the quarterfinals in New Haven. And her power will be hard to answer at the WTA Dubai.
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Sabalenka in three
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