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Match details
Fixture: (4) Garbine Muguruza vs Veronika Kudermetova.
Date: 16 February, 2022.
Tournament: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 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.
Garbine Muguruza vs Veronika Kudermetova preview
Defending champion Garbine Muguruza will take on Russia's Veronika Kudermetova in the second round of the 2022 Dubai Tennis Championships on Wednesday.
Muguruza's title defense began with a stern test as she had to dig deep to battle past Katerina Siniakova in three sets. The Spaniard saved a set point en route to winning a closely contested opening set. Siniakova stepped up her level in the second set, but couldn't sustain it. The former World No. 1 pulled away in the deciding set to win the match 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-2.
Muguruza's start to the 2022 season hasn't been the best, compiling a 2-2 record prior to Dubai. She entered the Australian Open as one of the favorites for the title but was knocked out in the second round by Alize Cornet.
The two-time Grand Slam winner will be aiming to turn her season around in Dubai with a successful title defense.
Veronika Kudermetova scored a 6-3, 6-4 win over former World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the opening round. The Russian played a solid match, though she needed three match points to close it out.
Kudermetova made a strong start to the season by reaching the final of the Melbourne Summer Set, where she lost to Simona Halep in straight sets. At the Australian Open, she made a third-round exit in singles, but made it to the semifinals in doubles.
After a disappointing first-round loss in last week's St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, Kudermetova has made a good start to her Dubai campaign.
Garbine Muguruza vs Veronika Kudermetova head-to-head
The two have faced off thrice before, with Muguruza leading 3-0 in the head-to-head. She won their most recent encounter at last year's Tokyo Olympics in straight sets.
Garbine Muguruza vs Veronika Kudermetova prediction
The two players progressed to the second round in contrasting ways. While Muguruza had to work hard for her win, Kudermetova made light work of her opponent. Nevertheless, given her past record against Kudermetova, the Spaniard will have a slight edge going into this contest.
The Russian has accumulated more wins than the former World No. 1 this year, but she has struggled to beat Muguruza in the past. Considering the defending champion might not be at her best yet, this will be a good opportunity for Kudermetova to score her first win against the Spaniard.
However, Muguruza will draw inspiration from her first-round performance and the fight she showed to win. A determined Muguruza is a scary opponent to face and even against a tricky player like Kudermetova, she's likely to win.
Prediction: Garbine Muguruza to win in three sets.
