Aryna Sabalenka and Garbine Muguruza will vie for a spot in the semifinals of the WTA Dubai Championships when they clash for the second time in the space of a week on Thursday, March 11. The match will be played at 7 pm local time. Get the live streaming options of this Aryna Sabalenka v Garbine Muguruza match along with its preview, head to head, and tips here.
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Aryna Sabalenka v Garbine Muguruza Head to Head
Sabalenka and Muguruza have played twice before this, and both matches were equally brilliant. Last week’s showdown was won by the Spaniard in three sets on the hard courts of Doha. And it was Sabalenka who won their first meeting indoors, in Beijing in 2018.
Also Read:
Sabalenka Demolishes Kontaveit to Reach Quarters
When Aryna Sabalenka plays tennis at a breakneck pace, a wink equates to a missed winner. The Belarusian is furiously fast from the back of the court, and these slick, quick conditions in Dubai are almost tailor-made for her explosive game.
The World No.8 produced a masterclass in beating Anett Kontaveit in the previous round. Even a 6-3 6-2 scoreline did not do justice to the dominance and execution of Sabalenka’s plan. The 22-year-old woman from Minsk, went through the gears in the first set. She broke for a 4-2 lead and never looked remotely close to surrendering her lead.
Sabalenka landed 71% of first serves and only faced one break point which she snuffed out in the second game of the second set. This was a rare capitulation by Kontaveit, who in fairness, the groundstrokes deserted her at critical moments in the match.
Sabalenka secured a double break at the tail end of the second set, firing four blistering backhand winners. She served out for the match at the first attempt to clinch victory in just 61 minutes.
Seeded at number three this week, Sabalenka is already a title winner in the UAE this year. She won the inaugural WTA Abu Dhabi Open in the month January – her third title on the trot.
Can she replicate her form in Dubai and advance into the semifinals?
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Muguruza, Tennis’ In-Form Woman without a Title
It is one of tennis uncomfortable truths, that despite Garbine Muguruza nestling her name back in the upper echelons of the sport, she hasn’t had any titles to reflect this good work. The Spaniard is a reinvigorated player since the beginning of the 2020 season, which marked a return to Grand Slam final spectacle.
Muguruza has reached the quarterfinals or better since losing in the final of last year’s Australian Open to Sofia Kenin. The two-time Major winner confirmed passage into the last eight in Dubai with an emphatic statement of intent. She dispatched Iga Swiatek in Wednesday’s much anticipated third round encounter 6-0 6-4.
In a battle between two Grand Slam champions, it was Muguruza who set the tone for a comprehensive win. Swiatek, for all of her superior athletic ability, could not contain Muguruza’s aggressive hitting. And in pressure moments, the young Pole double-faulted in two separate service games at break point to give the Spaniard a cushion.
Muguruza wrapped up the first set in next to no time. There was a reaction in the second set from the reigning French Open champion, but it was the accomplished Spaniard who continued to pummel deep returns and forehand winners. She sealed the match with her third ace of the afternoon.
Sabalenka v Muguruza Prediction and Tip
This will be a match that will be decided by first-strike tennis, and particularly on serve. Both players have posted some frightening numbers behind their deliveries this week. The onus is probably on Sabalenka to avenge last week’s loss in Doha, but the game’s market seems like the safest option here.
Tip: Over 21.5 games: 5/6 (bet365)
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The 2021 WTA Dubai Open will be played from March 8 to 14. You can watch & bet on these matches here. Get your latest premium tennis predictions here.
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