WTA Dubai Day 3 Predictions: Bencic, Noskova & Pegula to Win?

Belinda Bencic overcame a sluggish start to defeat Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the first round of the WTA 1000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Tuesday, marking her first match since the Australian Open. The ninth-seeded Bencic, a former champion in Dubai, will next face Sara Bejlek, the recent Abu Dhabi champion.

The match saw a stark contrast in the opening set, with Bouzas Maneiro dominating. However, Bencic rallied, adjusting to the night conditions which she prefers, stating, “I enjoy playing more at night. The ball doesn’t fly as much as in the day. The conditions are so different in the day and in the night.” She further expressed her fondness for playing evening matches in Dubai, recalling her 2019 title run where all her matches were played during the night session, jokingly appealing to the tournament director for a similar schedule this year.

Elsewhere in the tournament, Anna Kalinskaya fought back from a set down to defeat Jelena Ostapenko 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, and Paula Badosa secured a 6-3, 7-5 win over Katerina Siniakova. Amanda Anisimova received a walkover into the next round after Barbora Krejcikova withdrew from their scheduled match. However, Emma Raducanu’s campaign ended swiftly with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 loss to lucky loser Antonia Ruzic, marking her second consecutive first-round exit in the Middle East after retiring in Doha the previous week.

Looking ahead to Day 3, Bencic’s second-round match against Bejlek will be a test of consistency and dictation on the faster surfaces. Noskova will face Cirstea, having previously defeated her in a three-set encounter on hard court. Jessica Pegula, enjoying a strong start to the 2026 season, will play Varvara Gracheva, having previously won their only prior meeting on hard court.