Barbora Krejcikova vs Aryna Sabalenka Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Dubai Tennis Championships

Prediction published on 22/02/2023, 16:00  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 22/02/2023 at 17:01 in Tennis Predictions

Second seeded Aryna Sabalenka takes on unseeded Barbora Krejcikova in the Dubai Tennis Championships quarter final. Waiting in the last four are either third seeded Jessica Pegula or unseeded Karolina Muchova. Sabalenka is second in the world rankings but tops the ATP Race for points earned in 2023. This has already been a momentous year for the Belarusian who won the Australian Open. The 24-year-old comes into this quarter final still without a defeat this year. Before the Australian Open victory, Sabalenka also won the first of the Adelaide International tournaments. This week has seen her extend her 2023 winning streak to 13 matches. After receiving a first round bye, Sabalenka beat Lauren Davis for the loss of only one game. It was a lot tougher in the third round though with three sets needed to beat Jolena Ostapenko (the 13th seed). The first set was lost 6-2 but Sabalenka then won the next couple of sets for the loss of just two games.

Barbora Krejcikova has had two previous matches against her opponent in this quarter final. They were played in 2020 and 2021 and Sabalenka won both of them. Krejcikova began this tournament ranked 30th but this time last year was the world number two and began this year in 22nd place. The Czech didn't reach the quarter finals in either of her first tournaments this year. We seem to be getting back to the time when Krejcikova was primarily known as a doubles player with the occasional deep singles run. Krejcikova has already won the women's doubles title in Australia, her fourth straight Grand Slam doubles title. Back in the singles ranks, the Czech has shown improved form this week with two seeds beaten. Round two saw her defeat seventh seed Daria Kasatkina in three sets and followed that with a win over 12th seeded Petra Kvitova for the loss of only five games.  Dubai is one of her favourite venues and she was runner-up here two years ago.This is going to be tougher though and Sabalenka can get the win.