Due to start at 5:30 pm
Garcia 2.02, Pavlyuchenkova 1.96
Pavlyuchenkova leads their previous matches 3-1. They last met on a hard court in Tokyo last September. Garcia won in 3 sets. Pavlyuchenkova’s wins were all in 2 sets with the most recent one being on a hard court in Monterrey in April 2017.
Stronger 12 month results for Garcia although Pavlyuchenkova has made the better start to 2019. Pavlyuchenkova has won 5 of her 8 matches on hard courts this year. Garcia won 2 of her 4 and has struggled for consistency.
Garcia found some better form indoors a week ago in the France v Belgium Fed Cup tie and beat Mertens in straight sets. She reached the quarter finals in Dubai last season and the semi finals in 2016.
Caroline Garcia
Pavlyuchenkova has a pretty poor record in Dubai. She has lost in the first round in her last 5 visits including last season when she lost in straight sets to Johanna Konta. She made the quarter finals in 2010.
This will be very close and we have a good chance of 3 sets. Some value on Garcia. Lay Pavlyuchenkova around 1.70 or wait for her to break before laying her.
