Rybakina vs Halep Odds & Pick: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Finals

• Elena Rybakina and Simona Halep will play each other in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship on Saturday, February 22
• Rybakina has beat three top 10 seeds on her way to the finals
• Get the odds, analysis and best bet for the match below

Odds taken Feb. 21

Rybakina’s Road to the Finals

Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina has found herself in her fourth final of the 2020 season. She defeated eighth seed, Petra Martic 7-6(5), 7-6(2), in two hours and 11 minutes on Friday in Dubai. She came back from a break in both sets and found herself having to save a set point in both as well.

Not an easy match for the now finalist, Martic provided a variety of shots that kept Rybakina on her toes. The Kazakhstan native credited her serve for the win, where she recorded six aces.

“I knew it’s going to be easier to win this set than play a third one.” – Rybakina

For much of the first set, Martic controlled the game. It was being played on her pace and her rhythm. But what gave Rybakina momentum was, winning the two longest rallies in the first set. Martic recorded a 79% first serve percentage, which proved to be enough to come out of a three-break sequence with a break advantage.

At 5-4 Martic, Rybakina displayed her incredible shotmaking as she was able to secure the winner. Martic helped her out by netting two shots, including a breakpoint. This allowed Rybakina to even it out a 5-5, and ultimately take the win.

What a rally 👏

Elena Rybakina takes the opening set, 7-6(5)!#DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/jfIFJAsfub

— wta (@WTA) February 21, 2020

Rybakina played hard tennis but also got lucky at times throughout the match. Yes, Rybakina played smart at the net, but Martic’s drop shot was also finding the net on multiple occasions.

Her highlight reel from this match consists of her serves and her defensive work.

Halep’s Road to the Finals

Simona Halep breezed through her semifinal match in just 62 minutes and beat her opponent Jennifer Brady, 6-2, 6-0. Brady was exhausted, having been playing in her seventh straight day, after getting through three qualifying matches. The American made 14 unforced errors, allowing Halep to step in and win the match. Halep will play in her first final of the year, chasing her first trophy of 2020.

“I felt the ball great. I feel like I played the best match since I came here.” – Simona Halep

The 2015 champion won her last two meetings against Brady, and clearly felt comfortable in this match as well. Throughout their match, Halep committed just eight unforced errors, and recorded 16 winners.

The momentum continued for Halep into the second set, where she found herself with a 5-0 lead.

Locked in 🔒

The No.1 seed @Simona_Halep defeats Brady, 6-2, 6-0 and secures a spot in the @DDFTennis final! pic.twitter.com/sWiq1b30PL

— wta (@WTA) February 21, 2020

A bit of an anticlimactic ending to the match, with the winner being a dribbler over the net for the win, but either way, throughout her match she was aggressive, confident, and never showed signs of letting up on her opponent.

Halep vs Rybakina Head-to-Head

These two players have seen each other once before. But before you think that Rybakina took a match from Halep, you have to note Halep retired from that match. Just last September, the players found themselves playing each other in the Round of 16 at the Wuhan Open and Halep suffered from a back injury.

Best Bet to Win

It’s hard to bet against Halep. The favorite and number one seed has played great tennis throughout this tournament, and especially in her semifinal match. Rybakina won’t be an easy opponent by any means, but I don’t think she’ll take a set from Halep. Rybakina’s serve will be her biggest asset in this match, but Halep is a great defensive player, and the best one she’ll have seen in this tournament.

Best Bet: Simona Halep (-265)