The 2025 Dubai Championships are heating up, and tennis fans are in for a thrilling third-round showdown as Elena Rybakina and Paula Badosa collide after dominant second-round performances.
Both players cruised through their matches, setting up an anticipated battle between two of the WTA’s most exciting competitors.
Rybakina Rolls Past Uchijima in Commanding Fashion
For Elena Rybakina, her Dubai debut was a statement performance. The sixth seed enjoyed a first-round bye, meaning she entered the tournament fresh in the second round. Originally expected to face Jelena Ostapenko, the Kazakhstani instead took on Moyuka Uchijima, after the Latvian’s shocking first-round exit.
Despite never playing Uchijima before, Rybakina wasted no time establishing control. She broke serve early, dictating the baseline rallies and never facing a break point in the opening set. With relentless shot-making and precision, she wrapped up the first set 6-3.
The 2022 Wimbledon champion continued her aggressive dominance in the second set, securing two early breaks to race ahead 4-0. Uchijima had a brief window to fight back with two break points in the following game, but Rybakina held firm. She sealed the match 6-3, 6-2 with a commanding performance that left no doubt about her title aspirations.
Key Stat: Rybakina did not face a single break point until the final moments of the match.
With questions swirling around her coaching situation following Stefano Vukov’s suspension, Rybakina will be eager to let her tennis do the talking in Dubai.
Badosa Dismantles Mertens in One-Sided Battle
On the other side of the draw, Paula Badosa made an even bigger statement. The ninth seed entered Dubai with momentum, easily dispatching Lulu Sun 6-3, 6-4 in the opening round.
Her second-round opponent, Elise Mertens, was expected to be a much tougher challenge. The Belgian had been on a seven-match winning streak before a third-round loss at the Qatar Open, making her a dangerous opponent.
But Badosa was in no mood for drama.
She broke Mertens twice in the first set, saving the only break point she faced, and stormed to a 6-2 win.
If that wasn’t dominant enough, Badosa’s second-set performance was a masterclass. She won 21 of the first 24 points, leaving Mertens completely overwhelmed. Without facing a single break point, she wrapped up the match 6-2, 6-1.
Key Stat: Badosa won 21 of the first 24 points in the second set—one of the most dominant stretches of her career.
After struggling with injuries and inconsistency in 2024, Badosa looks locked in and ready to compete for big titles again.
Rybakina vs. Badosa: A Must-Watch Third-Round Clash
With both players in scintillating form, the Rybakina vs. Badosa showdown promises to be one of the highlights of the Dubai Championships.
- Head-to-Head: Their previous meetings have produced high-quality battles, and both are known for their powerful baseline game.
- Rybakina’s Strength: Her effortless power and serving ability make her a threat on hard courts, especially in fast conditions like Dubai.
- Badosa’s Strength: She thrives on aggressive returning and extended rallies, and her defensive skills could neutralize Rybakina’s first-strike tennis.
Both players will be fighting for a deep run in one of the biggest WTA 1000 events of the season. However, rain delays have made scheduling uncertain, and organizers are still finalizing the match timing.
Regardless of when they step on court, one thing is certain: This is a match no tennis fan will want to miss.