The stage is set and the stars have finally come under one roof at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship. It is the quarterfinal of the tournament, and only the eight best players remain. One among them is World No.1 Iga Swiatek, who is at the top of her game at the moment. Coming off her recent success in Qatar – where she clinched the title – she will be looking to grab yet another win and make her way into the semis.

However, her road to title glory will be no cakewalk. After her surprising third-round exit at the Australian Open, standing in her way to glory in Dubai is the Chinese superstar and AO finalist, Qinwen Zheng. With the match set to be a thriller, who among the two will come out on top? Here’s everything you need to know!

Iga Swiatek vs Qinwen Zheng: Preview

In the past, Dubai has proven to be a tougher battleground for Iga Swiatek compared to Doha, and she is yet to clinch the title here, having lost to Barbora Krejcikova in the final last year. The courts in Dubai are notably faster and less bouncy than those in Qatar. However, Swiatek doesn’t seem too affected, having brushed aside former US Open champion Sloane Stephens in straight sets to reach the last 16.

In the round of 16, she beat Elina Svitolina with an even more comfortable margin, 6-1, 6-4. Having overcome such hard hitters on her way to the quarterfinals, no less on comparatively faster courts, Swiatek is undoubtedly honing her game in the process. Now, the consistent Qinwen Zhang awaits.

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As for the Chinese player, she’s been extremely impressive since the US Open. On her way to the quarters, she won a hard-fought round of 32 match against Nao Hibino, prevailing in three sets, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2. In the round of 16, she went up against Anastasia Potapova, overcoming the Russian in straight sets. In her bid to reach another final this year, she’ll have to overcome the World No.1.

Swiatek vs Zheng: Head-to-head

When it comes to the head-to-head stats between the two players, Iga Swiatek has shown a clear one-sided dominance. Of their five encounters, the Polish player has come out on top in all of them. However, Zheng has made it difficult for Swiatek on more than a couple of occasions.

Their first match was at the 2022 French Open, where Swiatek came back from a set down to win the round of 16 encounter, 6-7, 6-0, 6-2. Their matches have gone all the way on two other occasions, once in San Diego in 2022 and the other at the 2023 Cincinnati Masters. Their most recent match was at the 2024 United Cup in Australia, where Swiatek prevailed 6-2, 6-3.

This will be the first time the pair will meet in the quarterfinals of a tournament. Every other encounter apart from the one at the United Cup has been in the round of 16. While Zheng will look to get her first win against the World No.1, Swiatek will hope to continue her 100% head-to-head record against the Chinese.

Prediction: Iga Swiatek to clinch a crucial win in Dubai

As things stand, Iga Swiatek looks in a more comfortable spot to land the win. With the head-to-head advantage that she possesses, it gives her a psychological edge over her opponent. She is also 13-0 in her last 13 matches against top 20 players. Moreover, coming off a recent title-winning triumph in Qatar will give her the confidence to keep going and clinch another title.

But World No.7 Qinwen will not make things easy for her. The young Chinese sensation, who is in red-hot form at the moment, will give her everything and try to secure her first win in the head-to-head statistics. That being said, who do you think will make their way into the next round? Let us know in the comments below!

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