Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA 1000 Dubai match.
A Russian derby awaits in the first round of WTA 1000 Dubai, as Ekaterina Alexandrova faces Veronika Kudermetova. Alexandrova has won their last three head-to-head meetings, but their overall record remains closely contested (3-2).
Ekaterina Alexandrova
Alexandrova is in outstanding form, winning eight of her last nine matches. Her hard-court record this season stands at 5 wins and 4 losses (56%), but her run to the semi-finals in Doha proved her ability to challenge the best. She defeated world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka (3:6, 6:3, 7:6) and No.5 Jessica Pegula (4:6, 6:1, 6:1) along the way. Her matches tend to be long battles, with 8 of her 12 hard-court encounters this year surpassing 20.5 games.
Veronika Kudermetova
Kudermetova has struggled for consistency, dropping to No.52 in the rankings after previously breaking into the top 10. However, she still boasts a solid 11-6 hard-court record in 2025 (65%). She has shown resilience in three-set wins over Liudmila Samsonova (5:7, 6:1, 7:6) and Mirra Andreeva (6:1, 6:7, 6:3), proving she can fight for results. Notably, her previous two hard-court matches against Alexandrova both went over 19.5 games.
Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Veronika Kudermetova Prediction
Despite Alexandrova’s three-match winning streak in this rivalry, the matches have been highly competitive. Kudermetova rarely loses without a fight, and both players have a history of long sets. Given their track record, another extended battle is highly likely.
