There are still some round-of-32 matches to be played in Dubai on Wednesday. But it’s hard not to look ahead to Linda Noskova and Jessica Pegula in the round of 16. Pegula is a household name and has done everything but win a major; Noskova, a 20-year-old phenom, may still off the radar to some, but she’s quickly working to change that.
The young Czech player has already notched three wins over Top 20 opponents this year: Paula Badosa in Abu Dhabi, Donna Vekic in Doha, and Diana Shnaider in Dubai. On top of that, she nearly eliminated Iga Swiatek in Doha, where the Pole plays some of her best tennis.
With all of that in mind, I like Noskova’s chances of advancing to the quarterfinals of the Dubai Duty Free Championships, so I’m grabbing her at plus-money odds.
