Varvara Gracheva, ranked 60th in the world, is set to face Rebecca Sramkova, ranked 103rd, in the first round of the 2026 Dubai WTA Championships on February 16. Gracheva is favored to win with odds of -140, reflecting a 58.3% implied probability, and has recently been in strong form, winning seven of her last eight matches and reaching the Doha round of 16. She has a solid hard-court record, winning 63.7% of her service games over the past year. Sramkova, who has struggled for main draw wins this year, has a 15-18 record on hard courts, with a service winning percentage of 61.9%. Her recent performance includes a loss in the qualifiers at Doha. The head-to-head is tied at 1-1, with Gracheva winning on grass last year and Sramkova winning their previous encounter. The match is expected to be competitive, with predictions favoring over 2.5 sets, given the close rankings and recent performances of both players. The tournament is part of the WTA 1000 series, taking place at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre on outdoor hard courts, and can be watched live on Sky Sports Tennis or the Tennis Channel.