Jessica Pegula faces Iva Jovic in an exciting all-American clash on Day 4 of the Dubai Tennis Championships. Meanwhile, Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina targets her 13th match win of the season. Who will reach the quarterfinals?
WTA Dubai Day 4 Predictions
Clara Tauson vs Magda Linette
Head-to-head: Tauson 1-1 Linette
Tauson surprisingly lost to Linette in their last meeting on the grass courts in Nottingham last summer. And the Pole has been in great form this week, dispatching former Wimbledon quarterfinalist Lulu Sun and World No. 12 Ekaterina Alexandrova in three sets. Still, Tauson should be favored to advance to the quarterfinals. The Dane was almost flawless in knocking out Peyton Stearns, saving four of five break points, and there is a high chance she will replicate that serving performance.
Prediction: Tauson in 2
Mirra Andreeva vs Jaqueline Cristian
Head-to-head: first meeting
Defending champion Mirra Andreeva didn’t need to lift her racket on Tuesday. She received a walkover following Daria Kasatkina’s withdrawal. Andreeva is one of the players who has raced to double figures for the season, winning 10 from a possible 13. But her last tournament in Doha brought a third defeat of the season. Jaqueline Cristian has finally registered a main draw win in Dubai. The Romanian had never qualified for this tournament in the past, but accessed the main draw this time due to her high ranking. That said, Cristian is unlikely to progress further as she faces one of the tour’s sharpest returners.
Prediction: Andreeva in 2
Elena Rybakina vs Antonia Ruzic
Head-to-head: first meeting
Rybakina bounced back from her shock quarterfinal loss in Doha by dismantling Kimberly Birrell 6-1 6-2 in her opening match. The newly crowned Australian Open champion has a fine track record in Dubai, reaching at least the quarterfinals in three of her five previous visits and a runner-up six years ago in one of the best finals in the tournament’s history. Ruzic is very much on the rise and showcased her talent with wins over Emma Raducanu and Anastasia Zakharova. But whether the Croatian’s return game can withstand a barrage of powerful shots from Rybakina remains doubtful.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2
Jessica Pegula vs Iva Jovic
Head-to-head: first meeting
Jovic is a future star in the making, and at this rate, she could potentially become the biggest name in American women’s tennis sooner rather than later. She’s had a fantastic start to the year, reaching another WTA final and making the last eight of a Grand Slam for the first time at the Australian Open. But consistency is Pegula’s edge. Her rhythm was intact in beating Varvara Gracheva in her first match in over two weeks.
Prediction: Pegula in 3
Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images