Kristina Mladenovic defeated Natalia Vikhlyantseva in the first round of the WTA 250 ITF Dubai tournament on hard court on 11 December 2018. The match result extended Mladenovic's involvement in the event, positioning her to face stronger opposition in subsequent rounds as she sought to build momentum during the winter hardcourt season. The victory marked a straightforward progression for the French player in the early stages of the tournament.