Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Odds & Preview: Badosa, Sabalenka Co-Favorites

• The Dubai Duty Free Championships are a WTA 500 this year, as they are every second year
• Despite the lower-level designation, eight of the top 10-ranked women players were in the original draw

• The depth of the competition should mean plenty of early upsets. We break it down and make predictions

Every year, the Dubai Duty Free Championships alternate the WTA 500 and WTA 1000 designations with their neighbour in Doha.

In 2022, Dubai is the 500, and Doha the 1000. Still, eight of the top 10 players on the WTA Tour have signed on this year.

It makes for an insane amount of depth for a WTA 500-level event. And that makes it even tougher to predict this year’s champion.

Dubai Duty Free Championships Singles Odds

Odds as of Feb. 13 at Barstool Sportsbook.

Only No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, still at home after winning the Australian Open at home and injured No. 4 Karolina Pliskova were missing from the original draw.

Badosa, Sabalenka the Co-Favorites

The depth of field means that  just about all of the 18 players listed above have at least a puncher’s chance of winning the whole thing.

You would likely strike 2019 finalist Petra Kvitova off the list, because she hasn’t shown the form so far in 2022.

Anett Kontaveit might find herself a little wrung out after a long week in St. Petersburg.

Previous Dubai Duty Free Championships Winners and Finalists

Late Sakkari Withdrawal Changes Draw

St. Petersburg finalist Maria Sakkari decided to withdraw from Dubai at the last minute. And that meant one major first-round match was averted.

Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins was unseeded, and was headed with a first-round clash with No. 4 seed Garbiñe Muguruza.

With Sakkari out, Collins becomes the No. 9 seed, moving into her spot. That means both Muguruza and Collins instead will now face a qualifier or lucky loser in the first round. It improves both their chances.

Top Half of Draw Loaded

Notably, five of the seven qualifier/lucky losers are in the bottom half of the Dubai draw. And the two highest seeds in the top half – Sabalenka and Badosa – face the remaining two in the first round.

First-round Dubai Matches to Watch

Cori Gauff (+125) vs Jessica Pegula (-155)

Still just 17, Gauff’s 2022 has been up and down so far. She was up a set and a break against world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty in her opening tournament, but faded. And then she had absolutely nothing in a quick loss to the rusty Wang Qiang in the first round of the Australian Open.

Meanwhile, countrywoman Pegula consistently flies under the radar, despite making the Australian Open quarterfinals.

Great Practice @CocoGauff & Bruno Kuzuhara, get 1 day better each & everyday 💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/vWzESsBpxQ

— Liam Smith (@Liam_CSmith) February 5, 2022

There is a decade between then. And yet both hit their career-high ranking of No. 16 within two weeks of each other last month.

It’s a first career meeting; pick Gauff (who should be raring to get back at it) for the upset.

Former Grand Slam Champions Meet in Dubai

Sofia Kenin (+110) vs Jelena Ostapenko (-136)

These two forgotten Grand Slam champions (Kenin at the 2020 Australian Open, Ostapenko at the 2017 French Open) are also doubles partners this week.

Ostapenko is the favorite, and had a good tournament last week in St. Petersburg.

Kenin hardly played in 2021, for various reasons. She’s back, visibly less fit. The former No. 4 lost to Daria Kasatkina in Sydney and Madison Keys at the Australian Open, both in the first round.

Tough draws, to be sure. And Kenin have plenty more as her ranking has tumbled down to No. 95.

The two are 1-1, both three-setters, and with the winner of the first set going on to win.

Take the over 2.5 sets on that one (+140)

Best Bet: Paula Badosa (+700)

Good Longshot: Elina Svitolina (+4000)