Iga Swiatek vs Leylah Annie Fernandez Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Dubai Tennis Championships

Prediction published on 19/02/2023, 16:14  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 19/02/2023 at 17:20 in Tennis Predictions

Iga Swiatek faces Leylah Fernandez in the Dubai Tennis Championships first round. Swiatek is the top seed and comes into this tournament after a stunning win in Doha last week. Three matches were played (another was won by a walkover) and just five games were dropped by the world number one. The final saw her defeat Jessica Pegula 6-3 6-0. All three of her matches saw the Pole win one set without dropping a game. Of the top ten in the rankings, only Ons Jabeur is absent but if Swiatek plays as she did in Doha, it's going to take a massive effort to beat her. Swiatek has only had one previous meeting with her opponent. That was in Adelaide last year with Swiatek winning in straight sets and only losing three games.

Leylah Fernandez is 37th in the live rankings and last week lost in the qualifying rounds in Doha. Her first two matches were won, though she had to come from a set down to defeat Dayana Yastremska. The final qualifying round was a tough one as she was beaten in straight sets by Karolina Pliskova. This year has seen the Canadian reach the last eight in Auckland but only the second round in the Australian Open, being beaten by Caroline Garcia. The last 32 was reached in Abu Dhabi after winning two qualifiers against players ranked outside the top 140. The first round in this tournament saw Fernandez get a straight sets win over qualifIer Julia Grabher.  This looks far too tough for Fernandez, back Swiatek to win in straight sets.