WTA Dubai 2023: Cornet vs Yastremska Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 WTA Dubai Tennis Championships as Alize Cornet takes on Dayana Yastremska in the first round on Sunday, February 19, 2023.

Alize Cornet is looking for her second win of the season, and her first since the United Cup. Will the Frenchwoman, a former finalist at the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships succeed on that front when she takes on Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska?

Alize Cornet is very much a veteran on the WTA Tour. It’s been nine years since she sensationally defeated legendary American Serena Williams at the WTA Dubai semifinals in straight sets – one of two seismic wins the Frenchwoman owns against the 23-time Major champion. Although she went on to lose the final to Venus Williams, she tormented Serena at Wimbledon a few months later that year. Cornet climbed similar heights last year, when she made a Grand Slam quarterfinal for the first time at the Australian Open and stopped Iga Swiatek’s winning streak at 37 at Wimbledon.

Dayana Yastremska, meanwhile, has had to battle through two rounds of qualifying to get into the main draw of the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships. Yastremksa scored routine wins over Sara Errani and Lauren Davis and will be looking to win a main draw match for just the second time this year.

Alize Cornet and Dayana Yastremska are tied at 1-1 in their head-to-head. Cornet dropped just three games the last time she faced the Ukranian in Cleveland last year, in an error-strewn performance served up by Yastremska. But the Ukranian is toughening up and has since rejoined the top 100. She’s cruised into the main draw of the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships after a very strong qualifying campaign. No surprise to see the World No. 99 starting as the favorite. Cornet’s season has been truly dismal so far and we are backing the qualifier to race into the second round.