Leylah Annie Fernandez vs Bernarda Pera Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Dubai Tennis Championships

Prediction published on 18/02/2024, 03:28  by Nella Wagah in Tennis Predictions

Leylah Fernandez will begin her Dubai Tennis Championship campaign with a first-round showdown with qualifier Bernada Pera. Leylah Fernandez lost in the first round here last year in what was her debut appearance. She will be eager to not suffer the same fate and having defeated Pera before, the Canadian will be confident of a win. Fernandez defeated Pera in their first encounter last season in Washington. The 21-year-old lost in the quarterfinals in her last outing which was in Doha. She has won five of the eight matches she has played this year with all five wins coming on hard courts. With her positive start to the season, she is closing in on a return to the WTA top 30. The former world number 13 is now ranked 33rd in the live ranking.

Bernarda Pera has never won a first-round match in this WTA 1000 event. She has been defeated three times in the first round with the more recent exit being last season. The American will be hopeful that another early exit isn’t on the cards here. Pera won both her qualifying fixtures in three sets with the last being against Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Pera has had a topsy-turvy start to the year and has so far compiled an 8-6 record. She has competed only on hard courts though most of her wins have come in qualifying rounds. The 29-year-old is set to start the week ranked 83rd in the WTA. The winner here will then play either Jasmine Paolini or Beatriz Haddad Maia.