Barbora Krejčíková vs Garbiñe Muguruza Odds & Prediction – Dubai Open Finals
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Barbora Krejčíková is looking for her first career title in Dubai, Garbiñe Muguruza her eighth
- This is the first career meeting between the two; first serve will be struck at 10 am EST on Saturday morning
- We look at why Muguruza is a big favorite to win, and whether there’s a chance of an upset below
With eight of the top 15 players in the world in the Dubai draw, it’s unexpected that unseeded Barbora Krejčíková would be one of the two left standing.
Krejčíková was not even among the top 20 on the odds list going in.
As for Garbiñe Muguruza, despite being in the tougher half and the No. 9 seed, it’s almost expected. That’s how well she’s been playing.
Barbora Krejčíková vs Garbiñe Muguruza Odds
| Player | Spread | Moneyline | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbora Krejčíková (CZE) | -4.5 (-112) | +290 | O 20.5 (-110) |
| [9] Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP) | +4.5 (-113) | -385 | U 20.5 (-114) |
Odds taken March 12 from DraftKings
Muguruza on a Mission in 2021
There was a different type of body language, a different look in her eye, when two-time Grand Slam champion Garbiñe Muguruza began the 2021 season in Australia.
After a few years when she had dropped from the very top tier of the game, she finally dismissed longtime coach Sam Sumyk and started a new chapter.
That chapter includes a female coach, former Wimbledon champion and fellow Spaniard Conchita Martinez.
https://twitter.com/WTA/status/1370450268224036864
It has taken a bit of time, but she’s back on her game again. And she has upped it another notch this week.
Win or lose, Muguruza will be right behind Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka in the points race to the WTA Finals, at No. 2.
She dispatched Elise Mertens in straight sets in the semifinals; the Belgian had used up a lot of energy in a comeback from the brink in the previous round.
Krejčíková Looking for First Title
One of the top doubles players in the world, Krejčíková has taken a more scenic route in her singles career.
The doubles success was in the cards early on; she and partner Katerina Siniakova came within a few points at the Australian Open of winning all four Grand Slam tournaments in girls’ doubles in 2013.
And they’re still together.
Barbora Krejčíková – Gradual Rankings Rise
| Season | Year-End Singles Ranking | Year-End Doubles Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 65 | 7 |
| 2019 | 135 | 13 |
| 2018 | 203 | 1 |
| 2016 | 251 | 26 |
| 2013 | 376 | 352 |
| 2012 | 608 | 614 |
But the Catch-22 with being a top doubles player is that if your singles ranking is too low, you have to make a choice.
Either you commit to being a full-time doubles specialist, or you sacrifice some of that prized income to drop down to play the lower-level tournaments in singles to raise your ranking.
Krejcikova has tried to balance both. It’s finally paying off now.
"I got so many chances to play with good players." 😊@BKrejcikova talks about playing with fellow 🇨🇿 players and her next opponent, Muguruza.#DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/wGosirBYhZ
— wta (@WTA) March 12, 2021
This will be the biggest singles match of her career.
Krejčíková will already break into the top 40 in singles after her effort in Dubai this week.
If she wins, she’ll be in the top 30 and be among the 32 seeded players at the upcoming Grand Slam tournaments in Paris and at Wimbledon.
Krejčíková vs Muguruza Head-to-Head Statistics
| 25 (Dec. 18, 1995) | Age | 27 (Oct. 7, 1993) |
| Brno, Czech Republic | Birthplace | Caracas, Venezuela |
| 5-10 | Height | 6-0 |
| 0 | WTA Singles Titles | 7 |
| 7 | WTA Doubles Titles | 5 |
| 0 | Grand Slam Singles Titles | 2 |
| No. 63 | Current Ranking | No. 16 |
| No. 59 (Feb. 8, 2021) | Career High Ranking | No. 1 (Sept. 10, 2017) |
| $3,274,522 | Career Prize Money | $21,473,323 |
| 0 | Head-to-Head | 0 |
Muguruza Better at Most Aspects
The two have never met before in singles – or in doubles.
If Krejčíková appears to have had an easier road to the final, it’s partly because she faced slightly less accomplished opposition.
She has yet to lose a set; Muguruza has lost just one, to No. 3 seed Aryna Sabalenka.
The biggest issue Krejčíková will have is that there isn’t any particular thing she does noticeably better than Muguruza on a tennis court.
And the Czech won’t come with anything the Spanish veteran hasn’t already seen and dealt with.
Also – Krejčíková will be hard-pressed to avoid the nerves.
Into her 3️⃣rd final of 2021 🙌@GarbiMuguruza takes her place in the @DDFTennis final with an impressive win over Mertens, 6-4, 7-6(5)! pic.twitter.com/tSAdpiRl7P
— wta (@WTA) March 12, 2021
Will the Sets be Close?
There’s a little bit of value in Krejčíková being competitive – over 9.5 on the total set games in set 1 (+110) and set 2 (+114).
That’s a possibility. And if the 2021 pandemic season is anything to go by, it’s never completely out of the realm that the unexpected can happen – such as Krejčíková winning in straight sets (+600).
But it’s unlikely. Muguruza appears to be on a mission.
Prediction: Muguruza in two sets (-137)
Stephanie gets the straight dope from the tennis insiders. On court, she has represented her country internationally. A BA in journalism led to years on the MLB beat and a decade covering tennis globally. She's written for Postmedia, the Guardian, the New York Times and also publishes OpenCourt.ca.
