Marta Kostyuk and Sorana Cirstea will play against each other in the first round of the Abu Dhabi Open. The match will start on February 6 at 12:30.
Bookmaker Ratings: Prediction #1 – Handicap (-2.5) for Kostyuk – 1.792.
Bookmaker Ratings: Prediction #2 – Total Games Over 21 – 1.78.
Bookmaker Ratings: Prediction #3 – 1st Set Games Over 9.5 – 2.005.
Kostyuk has been more successful at the start of the season and is favoured by the bookmakers for the upcoming match. However, Marta’s play is not stable, last week in Hua-Hin she had some difficult victories over not stronger opponents. Cirstea is an experienced tennis player, she has defeated Marta once in her career. However, I think, with the right attitude, Marta can defeat her.
Kostyuk has been unstable in recent matches, playing three tie-breaks. Cirstea plays quite confidently on the back line, she can break without any problems. Overall there is no significant difference in class between the tennis players, which can lead to a prolonged confrontation.
Last week, Marta won two matches at a tournament in Hua Hin, Thailand. She made it through the first rounds despite being opposed by Liang En-shuo (6-7, 6-3, 6-0) and Nao Hibino (6-3, 7-6).
In the quarter-finals, Kostyuk was defeated by Bianca Andreescu (0:6, 6:7). In the second set, Andreescu led 5-1, but eventually let her tie-break.
At the Australian Open, Marta also had two wins. In the third round, she was stopped by Jessica Pegula (0-6, 2-6).
Also worth mentioning is Kostyuk’s quarterfinal appearance at her first tournament in Adelaide. In the second round, she defeated future Australian Open finalist Elena Rybakina (6-7, 6-2, 6-3).
Marta Kostyuk has lost six of her last ten matches to top-100 opponents.
Cirstea has only won one match so far in the new season at the WTA main draw level.
In early January, Sorana defeated Viktorija Golubic (6-0, 7-6) in the first round of the Adelaide tournament. Next up was a loss to Ons Jabeur (6-7, 1-6).
In her second tournament in Adelaide, the Romanian tennis player qualified but lost in the main draw immediately to Beatriz Haddad-Maia (6-7, 1-6).
At the Australian Open, Cirstea lost to Yulia Putintseva (6-2, 4-6, 3-6).
Sorana Cirstea has won six of her last seven matches in the United Arab Emirates.
Type of Court – Hard
Speed of Court – 7/10
Marta Kostyuk’s Rating – 60
Marta Kostyuk Wins/Losses in 2023 – 8/4
Sorana Cirstea’s Rating – 61
Sorana Cirstea Wins/Losses in 2023 – 3/3
In three of Sorana’s five previous matches, more than 10 games were played in the first set. We offer to bet on “1st Set Games Over 9.5” with odds of 2.005.
Cirstea leads with a score of 1-0 in the head-to-head encounters. The only time they met was at the Istanbul Cup in 2021. In that match, Sorana Cirstea defeated Marta Kostyuk (6-4, 6-4) in two sets.
The match will be played in Center Court, Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
We recommend checking out the odds for the 2023 Abu Dhabi Open: Marta Kostyuk vs Sorana Cirstea at 1xBet and VBET.