USA Today via Reuters
Aug 11, 2022; North York, ON, Canada; Iga Swiatek (POL) returns a ball to Beatriz Haddad Maia (not pictured) during third round play at Sobeys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Aug 11, 2022; North York, ON, Canada; Iga Swiatek (POL) returns a ball to Beatriz Haddad Maia (not pictured) during third round play at Sobeys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Fans got to witness some high-octane performances during the initial-round fixtures of the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships. The outdoor hard court tournament, which is part of the WTA 1000 category, features some of the biggest names on the women’s circuit. Now, after the conclusion of the round of 32 fixtures., the stage is set for a blockbuster clash between two top guns.
The 4-time singles Grand Slam champion, Iga Świątek, will lock horns with the former world No. 3 Elina Svitolina in a high-profile third-round game. As both top-seeded players will be vying for a place in the quarterfinal, it will be interesting to see who emerges victorious in this outdoor hard-court showdown in Dubai.
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Iga Świątek vs. Elina Svitolina: Dubai Tennis Championships round of 16 match preview
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After a triumphant run at the Qatar Open, Iga Świątek is now back on the court at the WTA 1000 event in Dubai. As the number one-seeded participant, the Polish tennis star brushed aside the former US Open champion Sloane Stephens in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, to reach the round of 16.
Elina Svitolina, on the other hand, is coming to the tournament after her fourth-round finish at the Australian Open, where she picked up an injury. As the 15th seed, the Ukrainian player overcame the likes of her compatriot Anhelina Kalinina and the unseeded German Tatjana Maria in her first two matches at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
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Świątek vs. Svitolina: Head-to-Head
The third-round match between Świątek and Svitolina at the WTA 1000 event will also mark their third meeting on the tour, with their H2H currently tied at 1-1. In their previous encounter at the 2023 Wimbledon Championship, the Ukrainian player defeated Świątek in a three-set thriller, 7-5, 6-7, 6-2. But in their first meeting at the 2021 Internazionali BNL d’Italia, it was the 4-time singles Grand Slam champion who prevailed in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5.
Prediction: Świątek to come out on top in the round of 16 of the Dubai Tennis Championships
Świątek is a 4-time singles Grand Slam winner and has performed brilliantly on hard courts throughout her triumphant campaign at the Qatar Open. The Pole’s brilliant record on the surface and current world No. 1 ranking will make her the favorite to win this high-profile match against the Ukrainian player, who is just coming back on the court after an injury.
Who do you think will emerge victorious in this blockbuster round of 16 between Świątek and Svitolina? Let us know in the comments section.
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