As usual, the line-up for the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships is stacked. There are 15 matches on the slate on day three in the desert and, as ever, we here at LWOT are offering our predictions for all of them, including Iga Swiatek vs Leylah Fernandez, Lauren Davis vs Aryna Sabalenka and Viktoria Tomova vs Jessica Pegula. But who will come out on top?
WTA Dubai Day 3 Predictions
Amanda Anisimova vs Victoria Azarenka
Head-to-head: Anisimova 1-0 Azarenka
Amanda Anisimova scored a very straightforward win over Victoria Azarenka at Madrid last year, but clay is historically the Belarusian’s weakest surface. A clean victory like that probably isn’t possible for the youngster again, especially as her start to the season has been rather uninspiring. Azarenka, on the other hand, is producing consistently and following up on her Australian Open semifinal run. She should be the favorite here.
Prediction: Azarenka in 2
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Shelby Rogers vs Ana Bogdan
Head-to-head: first meeting
It’s already a great run for Ana Bogdan, who only had one win in five previous events in 2023. The Romanian qualified for the main draw here and hasn’t dropped a set in three matches thus far. Shelby Rogers is her toughest opponent yet, but she’s also not really out of her range. The American does have the higher upside though and she clearly displayed in Abu Dhabi two weeks ago, scoring some nice upsets on the way to the quarterfinals.
Prediction: Rogers in 2
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Jelena Ostapenko vs Linda Fruhvirtova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Jelena Ostapenko is the defending champion in Dubai and while her campaign last year involved some crazy matches, she does usually enjoy herself on these courts. That said, it is always tricky trying to predict the Latvian’s performance. A lot of her encounters are almost solely on her racket, but whether or not she’ll be firing is probably unbeknownst even to her. Linda Fruhvirtova doesn’t have the weapons to stand up to Ostapenko if the former Roland Garros champion is hitting well.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 2
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Caroline Garcia vs Madison Keys
Head-to-head: Keys 3-1 Keys
Madison Keys has won her last three matches against Caroline Garcia, including at the French Open last year. That was right before the Frenchwoman’s sudden resurgence, which basically lasts until this day. She has been slightly less clinical at the beginning of 2023 though and it might end up hurting her in this matchup. Against big servers, Garcia’s famous returning position inside the baseline is much tougher to execute and she’s usually not willing to make any adjustments.
Prediction: Keys in 3
Main photo credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
