It’s amazing to think that 14th seed Karolina Muchova still only has one WTA title to her name (even with all her injury concerns).
2025 WTA Tour
WTA 1000
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
Aviation Club Tennis Centre, Dubai UAE (Outdoor Hardcourt)
Selected Round of 32 Matches- 19th February
Karolina Muchova (14) (36/100) vs Emma Radacanu (2/1)
It’s amazing to think that 14th seed Karolina Muchova still only has one WTA title to her name (even with all her injury concerns). It does speak to a slight lack of killer instinct. That was on display in her last outing in Linz, where she was eliminated by Alexandrova in the semifinals (despite being the top seed). The Czech approaches tennis like Brooks Koepka approaches golf: it’s all about the big events. The Czech really does tend to elevate her performance in elite events. A four-time Grand Slam semifinalist, Muchova went on to finish runner-up at the 2023 French Open. in fact, she has finished in the semifinal stage or better in three of her last six slams (reaching the semifinals at last year’s US Open). She is a two-time WTA 1000 finalist, finishing runner-up at last year’s elite event in Beijing. She reached the quarters here back in 2023 and will look to go beyond that stage this time around. She was barely fussed in her opening clash, breezing past Suzan Lamens 6-2, 6-2. One of the most complete players on tour, Muchova has a fully-rounded game that can adjust to all conditions.
That was a much-needed win for Camp Radacanu. The Brit came into this tournament under severe pressure, losing four consecutive tour-level matches for the first time in her professional career. The former US Open champion has just looked completely out of sorts since being thrashed in the 3rd round of the Aussie Open by Swiatek. She failed to capitalize on wildcard entries in Abu Dhabi and Qatar. She finally broke that streak with an emphatic 6-4, 6-2 win over a similarly out of form Maria Sakkari. Radacanu was particularly severe on return, winning 12 of 15 2nd serve return points. The win improved Radacanu to 3-0 against the Greek (she is yet to drop a set in that contest). So, is this a potential glimmer of hope for Radacanu? Or was this just the result of a favourable draw against a well-suited adversary?
The Verdict: Muchova to win in straight sets at 86/100 – This will be their first career meeting. Karolina Muchova has an elite all-round game that should be too much for Radacanu to handle. I expect her to approach the net often, putting real pressure on Radacanu’s wobbly passing game.
Emma Navarrro (8) (2/1) vs Belinda Bencic (36/100)
Emma Navarro has become quite an unpredictable player. She enjoyed a terrific 2024 campaign, ending the year with a resoundingly positive win-loss record of 54-24. She was particularly impressive during that North American hardcourt swing, reaching the semifinals of the Canadian and US Opens. She was once again in fine Grand Slam form in Melbourne, reaching the
quarterfinals to further underline her growing status. But she crashed out in disappointing fashion in the first round of last week’s Qatar Open, humbled 6-2, 6-2 by Canadian Leylah Fernandez. That makes it three successive first-round defeats in WTA 1000 tennis (she was eliminated early in Shanghai and Wuhan last year). The gritty baseliner is a versatile player who can alternate between being aggressive and counterpunching. She sometimes looks like a prototypical Spanish clay-court player, employing heavy topspin on her forehand wing while she cuts into the surface with her sliced backhand.
Belinda Bencic’s post-maternity comeback tour is still in full swing. The former World No.4 only returned to action in October last year, playing in a few lower-tier events in the latter portion of the season. But she now appears to be right back to her best, reaching the 4th round of the Aussie Open prior to claiming the Abu Dhabi title (her first title since becoming a mother). She looked relentless in her Dubai opener, thrashing Japanese qualifier Aoi Ito 6-0, 6-2 (she won the first eight games of the match). She won 81% of her first-serve points against Ito, converting five of ten break-point opportunities in a display of efficient baseline tennis. Bencic came quite close to delivering a dreaded double-bagel in her 2nd successive tournament (she pulverized Veronika Kudermetova 6-0, 6-0 in Abu Dhabi). Bencic has always been a wily foe, using her inside-out groundstrokes and court-craft to outfox opponents. She seems to be playing with a little more intensity this year and it may take something special to end her six-match winning streak. Also, the Swiss star won this title back in 2019.
The Verdict: Bencic to win in straight sets at 86/100- This will be their first career meeting. I’m confident that Bencic can extend her winning streak to seven matches. The 2019 Dubai champ clearly enjoys playing in the Middle East and appears to be swinging with confidence since returning to action. Navarro occasionally looks caught between two minds, unsure of whether she wants to play ultra-aggressive or hunker down and hit on the counter. Bencic should be able to exploit that indecisiveness.
