WTA Dubai is rolling along and the fascinating matchups keep coming.
While the field of this WTA 500 event is dwindling, there are still a couple betting opportunities to consider on Wednesday.
Read on for analysis of two strong plays from the round of 16 in Dubai.
Match times are subject to change. Read here for advice on watching tennis matches.
Elina Svitolina (-185) vs Jil Teichmann (+144)
5 a.m. ET, WTA Dubai
Elina Svitolina got off to a solid start in the Middle East, defeating Mayar Sherif 6-2, 6-3 in her Dubai opener.
It was a business-like performance for Svitolina, one which saw her win 67% of her service points, including 71% of her second-serve points, and only get broken once all match. The Ukrainian also held Sherif to 35% second-serves won on her serve.
Svitolina, whose consistency from the baseline is one of the best in women's tennis, seemed to take a step in the right direction after an Australian campaign that saw her go a mediocre 2-3 and get completely overpowered by Madison Keys and Victoria Azarenka, and out-foxed by Anastasia Gasanova.
Jil Teichmann has made good use of her lucky-loser spot in Dubai, taking out Elise Mertens comfortably in the first round.
Teichmann won 62% of her service points and saved five of six break points during the match, while Mertens won only 57% of her service points and saved zero of four break points. In addition, Teichmann held Mertens to only 37% second serves won.
In qualifying, Teichmann took down Aleksandra Krunic and Kirsten Flipkens before falling to the tough Katerina Siniakova. Teichmann had gone 1-2 in Australia and lost a three-setter in the first round of St. Petersburg to eventual champion Anett Kontaveit, so this could be the lucky break the Swiss needed.
This is a fascinating match between two players who haven't won a lot recently and need this win for their confidence.
Teichmann's game, whether it be the tight match with Kontaveit and now the win over Mertens, seems to be finally coming together. When she's on her game her consistency and ability to move the ball around the court, especially with her lefty forehand, is difficult to break down.
Svitolina also has a high level of consistency that will make her a tough out in this match. However, recently, the depth on her shots and ability to ramp up the power to end points has been lacking.
In addition, it's important to note that Svitolina is a fairly similar archetype to Mertens in the sense that both are solid from the baseline, don't have any huge weapon, but have high tennis IQ's and are difficult to break down.
And, because Teichmann wasn't troubled by Mertens, I don't think Svitolina is that big of a step-up in class.
3.5 games are too many to be giving the Swiss.
Pick: Teichmann +3.5 games (-120 via PointsBet)
Barbora Krejcikova (-400) vs Dayana Yastremska (+290)
6:30 a.m. ET, WTA Dubai
Barbora Krejcikova made the final of Dubai last season and continued her success at the tournament with a 6-4, 7-6(0) win over Caroline Garcia in the first round of this year's version of the event.
While it wasn't an overly convincing performance, Krejcikova did win 79% of her first-serve points and broke Garcia on all three of the break points the Frenchwoman faced.
This is Krejcikova's first tournament since the Australian Open, where the Czech made the quarterfinals but looked injured and meekly lost to Madison Keys 6-3, 6-2.
Whether or not Krejcikova is feeling 100% healthy, given the close scoreline with Garcia, is still in question.
Dayana Yastremska has revitalized her season with her performance in Dubai this week. Yastremska's latest victory was a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Irina-Camelia Begu.
Yastremska did a great job attacking the Begu second serve, with Begu only winning 42% of her second-serve points and getting broken four times. Yastremska, on the other hand, was able to win 61% of her second-serve points and was only broken twice, despite the Romanian having 10 opportunities to break on her serve.
Yastremska only went 2-3 in Australia, with one of those wins over world number 264 Joanne Zuger. So, it was a pleasant surprise to see her striking the ball with such great controlled aggression in Dubai.
Before defeating Begu, Yastremska made it through a tough qualifying draw which included world number 33 Clara Tauson, and then took out a great counterpuncher in Madison Brengle in the first round.
Krejcikova has no major weaknesses, she hits her spots on her serve, hits the ball consistently deep in the court, and has an excellent net game.
With that said, she didn't play a great match against Garcia and seems to be still finding her game after Australia.
Yastremska's baseline game is on fire right now and she's doing a great job of dictating play. She's confident, in-form, and will not go down easily against Krejcikova.
Expect for Yastremska to hang in there with Krejcikova enough to cover the 4.5 games.
Pick: Yastremska +4.5 games (-110 via BetMGM)
