Iga Swiatek returns to action at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday, looking to put her recent setback behind her as she faces former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the second round. The Polish star will be eager to respond after a disappointing loss to Jelena Ostapenko in Doha, while Azarenka enters the clash fresh off a dramatic opening-round comeback victory.
Azarenka’s Resilient Opening Victory
Azarenka’s path to the second round was anything but straightforward. The 35-year-old Belarusian showed immense grit to rally from a set and a double-break down against Anhelina Kalinina, securing a hard-fought 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 win in a match lasting two hours and 52 minutes.
The veteran trailed 5-2 in the second set but managed to force a tiebreak, where her experience shone through. Even in the decider, Kalinina was a point away from taking a 4-0 lead, yet Azarenka refused to give in, winning six of the last seven games to complete a remarkable turnaround.
Having endured early exits in Brisbane, the Australian Open, and Doha this season, this victory snapped Azarenka’s three-match losing streak and ensured she avoided back-to-back first-round defeats at WTA 1000 events. Her reward is a fifth career meeting with Swiatek, whom she has not beaten since their first encounter in 2020.
Swiatek Seeks Quick Response After Doha Setback
For Swiatek, Tuesday’s match presents an opportunity to reset after a humbling semi-final defeat in Doha, where Ostapenko dominated her 6-3, 6-1. That loss ended Swiatek’s 15-match unbeaten run at the Qatar Open and denied her a historic fourth consecutive title at the event.
Despite the setback, the world No. 2 has maintained a strong level of consistency in 2025, boasting a 12-3 record. She reached the semi-finals of both the Australian Open and the Qatar Open, highlighting her ability to consistently go deep in tournaments. However, she is still searching for her first title since last year’s French Open and will be determined to break that drought in Dubai, where she was a finalist in 2024 and a semi-finalist in 2023.
Head-to-Head: Swiatek’s Dominance
Swiatek holds a commanding 3-1 advantage in their previous meetings, winning their last three encounters in straight sets.
Doha 2024 (QF): Swiatek 6-4, 6-0
Rome 2022 (R16): Swiatek 6-4, 6-1
Adelaide 2022 (QF): Swiatek 6-3, 2-6, 6-1
US Open 2020 (R32): Azarenka 6-4, 6-2
Since her only win over Swiatek at the 2020 US Open, Azarenka has struggled in this matchup, winning just one of their last seven sets. The 22-time WTA champion’s superior movement and baseline aggression have proven too much for the veteran, who must start strongly to have any chance of reversing the trend.
Azarenka does have experience beating top-10 players, with a 4-4 record against them in the past year, but her recent struggles against elite opposition suggest Swiatek remains the firm favorite.
Prediction: Swiatek in Two Sets
While Azarenka’s comeback win in the first round was impressive, Swiatek is unlikely to let a lead slip as Kalinina did. Expect the world No. 2 to impose her authority early and secure a straight-sets victory as she looks to build momentum in Dubai.
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