The defending champion unsettled

Mirra arrives in Dubai as the defending champion. She won this tournament last year, becoming the youngest player in history to capture a WTA 1000 title. Coached by Conchita Martínez, she shows total chemistry with the Spaniard, but I feel that the more time goes by, the less the duo is actually working! Although she recently suffered a frustrating loss to Victoria Mboko in Doha (after having a match point), Mirra should be able to elevate her game in the conditions in Dubai. She benefited from a walkover from Daria Kasatkina in the previous round, so she comes into this round of 16 with optimal physical freshness. Now, the Russian has a big mental issue, showing tears in every match, and almost every frustration takes on XXL proportions and disrupts her game.

Coached by Javier Martí, Jaqueline is a rhythm player who relies on her big frame and long wingspan (1.82 m) to dictate the rallies. She comes in on a roll with two solid wins in Dubai, including a demolition of Petra Marcinko in the first round (6-1, 6-1). Known by her nickname "The Contessa" because of her elegance and origins, she proved her resilience by returning to the highest level after a serious knee injury in 2022. Cristian has a complete, aggressive game but might lack a bit of punch if Mirra decides to step out of her fragile-little-girl mood.