Dubai Betting Preview: Clara Tauson vs. Mirra Andreeva

It’s fitting we’re getting a final between Clara Tauson and Mirra Andreeva at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

While Tauson isn’t a household name, you can count on one hand the number of players that have been better to start the 2025 season. The Dane is already 15-3 and claimed a title in Auckland. She also has several high-profile wins on her resume. Meanwhile, Andreeva is up to No. 11 in the live WTA rankings, and she has been knocking on the door of a big result for a while. Well, this is her chance, and I ultimately think she’ll get the job done. After all, she’s a -189 favorite.

However, with this being one of the biggest matches of the 17-year-old’s career, I can’t imagine her doing it in a straightforward fashion. That said, the Over on the game total is the most enticing play here.

Steve Tignor's pick and prediction: Andreeva vs. Tauson sees two former world No. 1 juniors who have been riding on different tracks

Andreeva is wise beyond her years, and she has proven to be mentally tough early in her career. The way she erased a one-break deficit and seized control of the third set against Elena Rybakina on Friday was extremely impressive. However, you can’t discount the dip in level that put her in that situation, and nerves definitely had something to do with it. After looking steady as can be in the opening set, Andreeva fell apart towards the end of the second. She was then visibly tight to open the third, allowing Rybakina to gain the upper hand. The fact that happened at all should mean that Tauson will have some openings. And given the way she has played this season, she should be able to take advantage of them.

This is also a match in which Tauson will likely be on the offensive. She plays an aggressive brand of tennis, swinging big whenever she sees an opening. And for as talented as Andreeva is, she plays a lot of defense because of her world-class speed and ability to redirect pace. However, the clash in styles should mean that Tauson will have opportunities to play her game. And if she’s finding the court for even a decent stretch, she’s going to put a dent in the scoreboard.

I just ultimately believe that in the end, Andreeva’s court coverage will be too much. The next step in Tauson’s development will likely be working diligently on her mobility. She might be able to win big matches with her power right now, but she’ll need to move her feet better in order to consistently beat elite players. But I’m not willing to bite the bullet and play Andreeva moneyline at her current odds, and I wouldn’t play -3 games either. Tauson’s big game just gives her such a high floor whenever she’s out there.

It’s also never a bad thing to have the Over in what might be a tightly-contested battle. There’s always the possibility that the Over is wrapped up midway through the second set, allowing you to enjoy the rest of the match in a stress-free state.

Pick: Over 21.5 (-128)