All 16 round-of-32 matches in Dubai will be played on Day 3. French Open champion Coco Gauff’s battle with Anna Kalinskaya is one of the most exciting on the slate. We here at LWOT split the action between four articles, with matches including Mirra Andreeva vs Daria Kasatkina, Jessica Pegula vs Varvara Gracheva, and Elena Rybakina vs Kimberly Birrell. But who will advance?
WTA Dubai Day 3 Predictions
Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Magda Linette
Head-to-head: Linette 4-2 Alexandrova
It has been a strange season for Alexandrova so far. She reached the Abu Dhabi Open final, but was also defeated in the opening round at three tournaments. However, Alexandrova’s early loss in Doha, her first since Abu Dhabi, came against an in-form Jelena Ostapenko. Despite her poor record against the gritty Linette, the conditions suit the No. 8 seed more, and I think she will overcome this challenge.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 3
Emma Navarro vs Elise Mertens
Head-to-head: Navarro 2-0 Mertens
The head-to-head favors Navarro, but both those meetings were in 2024. That was the American’s best season, establishing her as a well-known name. Since then, the US Open semifinalist has struggled much more, including in the opening months of 2026. Mertens enters this match after thrashing Marie Bouzkova 6-2 6-2. The experienced Belgian almost always plays at a solid level, and I don’t trust Navarro to overcome that right now.
Prediction: Mertens in 3
Elina Svitolina vs Paula Badosa
Head-to-head: Svitolina 2-0 Badosa
Badosa performed well against Katerina Siniakova in the opening round, but this match will likely test the Spaniard more. Svitolina’s more relentless style presents a particular challenge for Badosa since her body is so prone to breaking down. The Ukrainian is also a two-time former champion at this tournament and feels comfortable in the conditions. Those factors make Svitolina the more likely winner.
Prediction: Svitolina in 2
Coco Gauff vs Anna Kalinskaya
Head-to-head: Kalinskaya 1-0 Gauff
The only previous meeting between these two was at the 2024 iteration of the event in Dubai, which Kalinskaya won despite dropping the opening set. Gauff has exited her last three Middle Eastern tournaments in the opening round, dating back to the 2025 Qatar Open. Although that record and facing Kalinskaya make this a tough matchup, Gauff is backed to stop the rot. Someone as good as her will likely find some form sooner rather than later, and she might be motivated by an opportunity to close the rankings gap to Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, who withdrew from the event.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey – Imagn Images
