Dubai Tennis Championships Quarterfinals Odds & Picks

• Only three quarterfinals on Friday in Dubai, after Karolina Pliskova withdrew
• It’s the second straight week No. 1 Iga Swiatek’s quarterfinal opponent pulled out

• Read on as we break down the other three matches in the Dubai Tennis Championships odds

The most anticipated of the four quarterfinals at the Dubai Tennis Championships Thursday – No. 1 Iga Swiatek against former No. 1 Karolina Pliskova – won’t happen after Pliskova withdrew Wednesday with a viral illness. There there will only be three selections in our Dubai Tennis Championships picks below for Thursday.

Dubai Tennis Championships Odds

The favorites in the Dubai Tennis Championships odds above list Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula as favorites to advance to the semifinals. Odds as of February 22 at DraftKings.

Pliskova had won three consecutive matches (notably, a 6-1, 6-2 win over No. 6 seed Maria Sakkari). But just as Belinda Bencic did in Doha last week, she withdrew before having to face the mighty Swiatek.

Swiatek, who played just three matches and lost just five games in winning Doha last week, got a bye in the first round. She then lost just two games to 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, and just one to No. 14 seed Liudmila Samsonova.

She plays the winner of the match between Madison Keys and Coco Gauff.

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Keys vs Gauff Prediction

If you had to pick the better all-around player in this matchup, you’d probably go with Keys, a former US Open finalist and world No. 7.

But Gauff, nine years younger, is obviously the one with the higher ceiling at this point. She’s still 18 and has one major final, two other quarterfinals and three titles.

But they’re both 11-2 on the season coming into this one; Keys was helped by going a perfect 5-0 as the US won the inaugural United Cup event. But as the No. 2, she faced just one player ranked inside the top 45.

Gauff won Auckland to open the season, going 5-0 but facing no one inside the top 50.

Madison Keys vs Coco Gauff Match History

With Keys, it’s never entirely clear what you’re going to get on a given day.

Unlike Gauff, with her forehand, she doesn’t have an undeniably weaker side to attack. But Gauff also is a lot quicker on the court.

In her win in Adelaide a year ago, Keys created 17 break points on Gauff’s serve and converted four. Gauff helped out with seven double faults. But it was still close. She also did a better job than Gauff on returning first serves (32% to 21%).

So, it comes down to the serve. And whether Keys digs in. And whether Gauff gets tight.

There’s definitely the possibility of an upset there.

Dubai Tennis Championship Picks: Over 2.5 Sets (+145)

Krejcikova vs Sabalenka Prediction

Australian Open Sabalenka took a nice break after the unexpected and gratifying first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

She returned this week in Dubai, and crushed American Lauren Davis in her debut. And after dropping the first set to the always-dangerous Jelena Ostapenko, she crushed her, too.

Aryna Sabalenka on the #1 ranking:

"It’s my first priority, I really want it… Iga's doing really well, she’s moving better than anybody else, she’s tough and it’s going to be really tough, and that’s why I really want to achieve it."

Full interview: https://t.co/1x2LX5rOy7 pic.twitter.com/OSYNem0PB3

— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) February 20, 2023

Krejcikova is likely not as good a player as her French Open title would indicate. But also much better than she showed in 2022.

She’s ranked No. 30 – as low as she’s been since before she won the French Open in 2021. A year ago, she was at a career-high No. 2.

It should be a competitive battle. But one player has exponentially more confidence and momentum than the other.

Dubai Tennis Championships Picks: Sabalenka in two sets (-115)

Muchova vs Pegula Prediction

This matchup is fascinating, as Muchova is a standout talent who has had issues getting back to where she was – on the rise, at No. 22 – before a number of injuries in 2021-22.

The odds seem to reflect that, as well.

The two are meeting for the first time. And given how quickly Pegula and Gauff were beaten in doubles yesterday – they won the doubles last week in Doha, and Pegula also made the singles final – the American might be running out of energy.

Muchova was impressive in dropping just five games in a win over Bencic Wednesday.

Calling for an upset here – a long-overdue kickstart to Muchova’s return.

Dubai Tennis Championships Picks: Muchova in Three Sets (+475)