Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA 1000 Dubai match.
Rybakina is one of the main contenders for the title, while Kenin has shown significant progress and already knocked out the defending champion, Jasmine Paolini. The Kazakhstani player has an impressive record on this surface, but the American is gaining momentum and has broken into the top 60.
Elena Rybakina
The Kazakhstani star thrives on fast courts, winning six of her last eight matches on outdoor hard surfaces. Four of her eight career titles have come on this surface. Rybakina has a strong history in Dubai, having reached the final in 2020 and the quarter-finals last year. This season, she comfortably defeated Moyuka Uchijima (6:3, 6:2) but had to battle past Paula Badosa in a three-hour marathon (4:6, 7:6, 7:6), saving six match points in the process.
Sofia Kenin
The American has made significant strides, climbing over 100 places in the rankings within six months. However, deep runs in tournaments have often been tough for her—13 out of 21 quarter-finals (61.9%) have gone over 21.5 total games. Kenin has started this season well, with 10 wins and 5 losses on outdoor hard courts, but facing Rybakina will be a challenge. She has lost both previous meetings in straight sets, with their last encounter in Indian Wells featuring two tie-break sets (7:6, 7:6).
Elena Rybakina vs Sofia Kenin Prediction
Rybakina is the favourite, but Kenin is in form and will put up a fight. The Kazakhstani excels on hard courts, with her powerful serve being a major weapon. However, Kenin tends to drag matches out, and tie-breaks have been a common feature in their head-to-head meetings. A high-game total is likely.
