Iga Swiatek vs Barbora Krejcikova Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Dubai Tennis Championships

Prediction published on 24/02/2023, 11:57  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 24/02/2023 at 16:48 in Tennis Predictions

Iga Swiatek bids to win her second title in as many weeks. The world number one takes on unseeded Barbora Krejcikova in the final of the 2023 Dubai Tennis Championships. Swiatek has made it to her second successive final without losing a set. The Pole hasn't lost a set since being knocked out of the Australian Open. Last week saw her lose just five games in Doha, Swiatek has been slipping this week with nine games lost in three matches. Six of those were lost in her straight sets win over Cori Gauff in Friday's semi-final. Her last six matches have seen her win 72 games and concede just 13. Swiatek can go 4800 points clear at the top of the rankings if winning this final. Just to put that into perspective, only five players have actually even earned 4800 ranking points. The Pole is up to third in the Live WTA Race and will go second behind Aryna Sabalenka if winning this match. 

When Swiatek reaches a final, she invariably wins it. Of her last 13, only one has seen her fail to win the title. That was in Ostrava last October and it was Barbora Krejcikova who beat her in three sets.  That's her only win over her opponent after two defeats in 2021. Krejcikova began this tournament ranked 30th which is a big drop from being second in the rankings this time last year. Her run to this final has seen the Czech rise to 19th in the live rankings, a win will take her up to 16th. Perhaps she just loves playing in Dubai as Krejcikova also reached the final in 2021, losing to Garbine Muguruza.  This year has seen her reach the fourth round of the Australian Open (where she won the women's doubles title) but then win only once in her next two tournaments.

The return to Dubai has worked wonders and this week has seen her defeat no less than four seeded players. Daria Kasatkina (after losing the first set), Petra Kvitova, second seeded Aryna Sabalenka (undefeated this year before this loss) and the third seed Jessica Pegula have all been beaten. Krejcikova has lost the middle set against Pegula (who beat her in the Australian Open) but the other two sets saw the Czech drop just one game. Two of the top three in the world have been beaten by her but getting a win over the world number one is far tougher. Back Swiatek to win this in straight sets.