Heather Watson vs Veronika Kudermetova Prediction & Betting Tips - Abu Dhabi Open

Prediction published on 05/02/2024, 08:34  by Nella Wagah in Tennis Predictions

The qualifier Heather Watson and ninth seed Veronika Kudermetova will battle each other next in Abu Dhabi. They will square off in the first round with the winner going on to play either Wang Xinyu or Zhu Lin. Heather Watson arrived in Abu Dhabi having not won a match in 2024. She has now won two of four matches after progressing through the qualifying rounds. This has allowed her to play in the main draw here for the second time and she will be eager for a deep run. She won just one round the last time she was here which was in 2021. Watson’s slow start to the year has seen her drop 17 places in the live ranking. The former world number 38 is now ranked 156th in the WTA. Watson won the first time she was paired up against Kudermetova which was back in 2019.

Veronika Kudermetova won the last time she squared off with Watson. This was three seasons ago at the Grampians Trophy during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. She won that first-round tie in straight sets and will be eager for another similar outing. Kudermetova has had a shaky start to the year and has so far compiled a 2-3 record. She has lost her last two matches and was last on a Singles court at the Australia Open. But as she has had considerable success in Abu Dhabi in the past, she will be confident of a season turnaround. The Russian finished as runner-up here in 2021 and was a quarterfinalist last season. Kudermetova is currently ranked 16th in the WTA.