Peyton Stearns vs Qinwen Zheng Prediction & Picks - WTA Dubai Tennis Championships

Prediction published on 2/15/26, 12:03 AM  by Lou Aguila | Modified on 2/15/26 at 4:40 PM in Tennis Picks

After a decent run in her first tournament off an elbow injury, Zheng Qinwen now targets a deeper run in the second WTA 1000 final tournament of the Middle East swing at the 2026 Dubai Tennis Championships.

Recommended Pick: Zheng Qinwen 2-0 Sets

Potential Payout: Bet $105 to Win $205 (-105 at DraftKings).

Zheng opened as a clear-cut favorite at – 311 moneyline ahead of her first-round match against Peyton Stearns following a round-of-16 finish at the 2026 Qatar Open. The former top-10 player displayed a shade of her high-caliber form in her wins over Sofia Kenin 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 and Alycia Parks 6-7, 6-3, 2-6. The Chinese also pushed reigning Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina to a three-setter, 6-4, 2-6, 5-7 in their third-round clash.

Stearns qualified for the main draw of the Dubai Tennis Championship after securing a lucky loser spot. The American downed former two-time Grand Slam finalist Vera Zvonareva 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in the first match of the qualifiers before bowing to Elena Gabriela Ruse 2-6, 6-4, 4-6 in the final qualifying match. Stearns, 4-5 on the 2026 WTA season, upset Zheng, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the same tournament last year.