Dubai Tennis Championships 2023: Petra Kvitova vs Barbora Krejcikova preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (12) Petra Kvitova vs Barbora Krejcikova
Date: 22 February, 2023
Tournament: Dubai Tennis Championships 2023
Round: Third round (Round of 16)
Venue: Aviation Club Tennis Center, Dubai
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Outdoor Hardcourt
Prize money: $2,788,468
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Petra Kvitova vs Barbora Krejcikova preview
Former champion Petra Kvitova will take on countrywoman and 2021 finalist Barbora Krejickova in an exciting round-of-16 encounter at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Wednesday (February 22).
Kvitova, the 12th seed at this year’s tournament, made a strong start to the season after posting big wins over the likes of Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina Down Under. She lost a bit of steam in subsequent weeks and comes into the tournament after back-to-back second-round exits in Melbourne and Qatar.
The Czech, however, seems to have steadied the ship once again — posting solid results against Martina Trevisan and Yulia Putinseva. She has only dropped 11 games in her two matches so far and will be keen to carry the winning momentum deeper into the tournament.
Krejcikova, meanwhile, has also struggled for consistent results of late. The 2021 Roland Garros champion made the second week at the year’s first Slam in Melbourne only to suffer early exits at her next two outings in Abu Dhabi and Doha.
She does, however, have good memories from her time in Dubai — a venue where she had her first major breakthrough back by reaching the summit clash back in 2021.
Petra Kvitova vs Barbora Krejcikova head-to-head
Kvitova and Krejcikova have never crossed paths on the Tour before, so their current head-to-head stands at a 0-0 deadlock.
Petra Kvitova vs Barbora Krejcikova odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Petra Kvitova vs Barbora Krejcikova prediction
Petra Kvitova’s power-packed game has come alive on the quick hardcourts of Dubai on more occasions than that one.
The former winner, when striking the ball well, can benefit quite a bit from the low-bouncing courts that make her shots look even more menacing. The southpaw, however, needs to be wary of the dogged Barbora Krejcikova — who is a master at using their opponent’s power against them.
Krejikova’s variety and ability to hang around in rallies has often perplexed opponents, who end up overpressing in a bid to break past the wall of defense.
Kvitova, for one, can fall prey to overhitting when pitted against such opponents. That said, the courts in Dubai will play more to her liking that her opponent’s.
The 2021 finalist will likely employ every shot in the book to keep her opponent from finding her rhythm, but if Kvitova got a taste of the same against Putinseva. If the southpaw can play with the same sort of restraint that she showed in that match, she should be able to sail through.
Prediction: Kvitova to win in two tight sets