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Match details
Fixture: (1) Aryna Sabalenka vs Petra Kvitova
Tournament: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 2022
Date: 16 February 2022
Round: Second round (Round of 16)
Venue: Dubai, UAE
Category: WTA 500
Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
Prize money: $703,580
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Aryna Sabalenka vs Petra Kvitova preview
Aryna Sabakenka will take on former champion Petra Kvitova in a highly-anticipated second-round encounter at the 2022 Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships on Wednesday.
Sabalenka, the top seed, produced a clinical performance in her opening match against Marta Kostyuk to come through for the loss of only five games. The Belarusian, who has battled with serving woes for most of the 2022 season, overcame a slow start to hold off the Ukrainian's charge.
She faces another formidable opponent in the next round in the shape of 2013winner Petra Kvitova.
Kvitova, much like her opponent, hasn't had the best of starts to the season. In January, the Czech sustained a wrist injury that prevented her from playing at a high level in her first few matches of the season.
The Czech has shown signs of improvement in recent weeks -- having opened her campaign here with a blistering win over the big-hitting Camila Giorgi. She will be keen to get her first big win of the season against Sabalenka on Wednesday.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Petra Kvitova head-to-head
Aryna Sabalenka and Petra Kvitova have split their previous four meetings, so their current head-to-head stands at a 2-2 deadlock. The Belarusian won the duo's last meeting in the final of the 2020 Qatar Open in straight sets.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Petra Kvitova prediction
Both Aryna Sabalenka and Petra Kvitova possess similar high-risk games, and a lot will depend on their ability to keep the unforced errors in check.
Sabalenka's struggle with double faults could also come to the fore against an aggressive returner in the form of Kvitova. The Czech was in menacing form on return against Giorgi, winning over half the return points in the match.
The quick court conditions are well-suited for both players' games, and they will look to try and get in the first strike and wrest control of the baseline.
Kvitova definitely has the game to stage an upset but her lack of confidence could come back to haunt her on the big points.
Prediction: Aryna Sabalenka to win in three sets
