WTA Dubai Open 2021: Elise Mertens vs Jessica Pegula -Preview, Head-to-Head and Predictions
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Elise Mertens and Jessica Pegula
Elise Mertens will take on Jessica Pegula in the Quarter Finals of the Dubai Open 2021. Mertens is currently the World no.18 on the WTA rankings and Pegula is the World no.36.
Match Details
- Tournament: WTA Dubai Open 2021
- Match: Elise Mertens vs Jessica Pegula
- Round: Quarter Finals
- Date: 11th March, 2021
- Prize Money: $41,500
- Venue: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Surface: Outdoor Hard Court
Elise Mertens vs Jessica Pegula : Preview
Mertens has been in good form coming into the Middle Eastern leg of the hard court season. She reached the Finals of two back to back tournaments, first the Linz Cup and then the Gippsland Trophy. At the Australian Open too she reached the fourth round of the tournament in singles, and won the Doubles event partnering Aryna Sabalenka.
The Dubai Open is her first outing since and she has done well so far. In the first round she beat the Qualifier Viktoriya Tomova of Bulgaria in three sets. In the second she defeated Shelby Rogers of the USA. Caroline Garcia was her third round opponent, and Mertens had her most comfortable win against her, winning in two sets 6-4 6-2. In the Quarter Finals of the Dubai Open she will face the high flying Jessica Pegula.
Pegula has been on a dream run since the Australian Open, where she reached the Quarter Final stage. In the tournament after that at the Qatar Open she again did very well and reached the Semi Finals. She has carried the same rich vein of form into the Dubai Open as well. Pegula has defeated Yaroslava Shvedova in the first round, and got the better of Kristina Mladenovic in the second.
Her sternest test was to be the match against Karolina Pliskova the second seed in the third round, but Pegula blew her away 6-0 6-0. This is Pegula’s second victory against the same opponent in as many tournaments.
Elise Mertens vs Jessica Pegula: Head-to-Head
These two players have met just once before on the tour. A Quarter Final encounter at the Cincinnati Open in 2020. Mertens had won that contest 6-1 6-3, so the head to head stands at 1-0.
Elise Mertens vs Jessica Pegula: Prediction
Mertens is slowly coming back to her best post the shoulder injury that forced her out of the Abu Dhabi Open early on in the year. She is consistent and has an all court game. Pegula is a very aggressive player who overcommits at times. Both players will look to start well. All said and done, Mertens should edge this contest.
Match Prediction: Elise Mertens should win this match in three sets.
Also read: WTA Dubai Open 2021: Anastasia Potapova vs Barbora Krejcikova -Preview, Head-to-Head and Predictions
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Auri Ghosh
(652 Articles Published)