Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka plays her first match since that triumph on the third day of the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships. There is a very busy schedule of 16 matches, with four of these predicted in this article. As always, we at LWOT also predict the other matches in Dubai, including Elena Rybakina vs Victoria Azarenka. But who do you think will advance?
WTA Dubai Day 3 Predictions
Marketa Vondrousova vs Peyton Stearns
Head-to-Head: Vondrousova 2-0 Stearns
Stearns was very impressive in her three-set victory against Mirra Andreeva in the opening round. However, this will be a very different type of match. Andreeva likes to hit flatly with a consistent pace, while Vondrousova plays with different spins and paces. That style has caused Stearns issues in their previous matches. The conditions suit Stearns well, giving her a chance of beating the Czech for the first time. Overall, though, Vondrousova is still a slight favourite to prevail.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 3
Liudmila Samsonova vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Head-to-Head: Pavlyuchenkova 1-0 Samsonova
Pavlyuchenkova is currently playing some of her best tennis on hard courts in years. She reached her first WTA 1000 semifinal on a hard court in 14 years last week in Doha and then followed it up with a great win against Marie Bouzkova in Dubai. This could come down to a few points between two big-hitting players. Samsonova has a slight edge on serve, which could be pivotal in the relatively quick conditions at the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships, and that is why I will back her to win.
Prediction: Samsonova in 3
Lucia Bronzetti vs Anastasia Potapova
Head-to-Head: Potapova 2-0 Bronzetti
Both players had great wins in the opening round, Potapova recovered from a set down against Zhu Lin, while Bronzetti toppled last year’s WTA Elite Trophy semifinalist Daria Kasatkina 7-5 in the third set. Although each match went to three sets, Bronzetti’s was the more grueling against an opponent who regularly extends the rallies. The Italian has a great chance if she plays near the level she found against Kasatkina, but it may be difficult to do that without a day’s rest. Potapova is likely to have a small adavantage at the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships.
Prediction: Potapova in 2
Aryna Sabalenka vs Donna Vekic
Head-to-Head: Vekic 5-2 Sabalenka
The head-to-head makes this matchup interesting and will give Vekic Hope. Admittedly, three of the Croatian’s victories were in 2017, when Sabalenka was not close to the player she is now. However, Vekic did beat her in 2021 and 2022, and she will also hope the Australian Open champion is rusty in her first match back. But those factors are still not enough to make me go against Sabalenka. Her level has improved hugely in the last two years since Vekic’s last win, and the Croatian will need her best performance yet to win again.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane – USA TODAY Sports
