WTA Doha 2021: Women’s Draw Preview, Analysis and Prediction for Qatar Open
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Elina Svitolina, Karolina Pliskova, Aryna Sabalenka
Qatar Total Open, a WTA 500 event will be held from March 1-6 in the city of Doha. The tournament will be played on indoor hard court surface with the likes of Elina Svitolina, Petra Kvitova and Aryna Sabalenka all a part of the draw. The Belarusian, Sabalenka is the third seed and the defending champion in Doha.
Victoria Azarenka, eight seed received a wildcard for the tournament alongside Jelena Ostapenko. Karolina Pliskova also marks her return to tennis after an early round exit from the Australian Open 2021.
Tournament Details:
- Tournament: Qatar Total Open 2021
- Date: March 1-6, 2021
- Number of Entrants: 32 (Singles), 16 (Doubles)
- Venue: Doha, Qatar
- Surface: Hard Court
- Prize Money: $565,530
- Defending champion: Aryna Sabalenka
Top Seeds at the Qatar Open 2021
- Elina Svitolina (Ukraine)
- Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic)
- Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)
- Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic)
- Kiki Bertens (Netherlands)
Women’s Draw Prediction and Analysis
Top Half
The top half includes the likes of the top seed, Elina Svitolina and the defending champion, Aryna Sabalenka. Svitolina has received a bye in the first round and is expected to face the American, Amanda Aminisova in the second round. The top seed will face a stringent test in the quarterfinals as she might have to face the eight seed, Victoria Azarenka. However, the Ukrainian is expected to live upto her expectations and progress into the semifinals.
Aryna Sabalenka has also received a bye in the first round and is expected to face the two time Grandslam champion, Garbine Muguruza in round two. Her potential quarterfinal opponent is the hard hitting Greek, Maria Sakkari. However, given her current form, the Belarusian is hard to stop at the moment. She will get through her quarter rather comfortably and book her place in the semifinals.
First Semifinal Prediction: Elina Svitolina vs Aryna Sabalenka
Bottom Half
Petra Kvitova, fourth seed has received a bye in the first round. The Czech star has a tough quarter with a potential quarterfinal clash against the Australian Open 2021 runner-up, Jennifer Brady. Brady, seeded seventh at the Doha Open will face Anett Kontaveit in Round one and a potential second round clash against Angelique Kerber. She is expected to defeat Kvitova in the last eight clash and book a semifinal berth.
Karolina Pliskova is place in the fourth quarter of the draw, alongside Kiki Bertens, who returns to action for the first time after the French Open 2020. Bertens faces French Open 2017 champion, Jelena Ostapenko in the first round. She is expected to prevail in this encounter and progress further inti the quarterfinals, where she will face Pliskova. The Czech star will defeat Bertens and end her run at the Doha Open.
Second Semifinal Prediction: Karolina Pliskova vs Jennifer Brady
Semifinals
The first semifinal will feature Elina Svitolina going up against Aryna Sabalenka. The kind of tennis Sabalenka has played in the recent months, it is hard to see Svitolina causing much trouble to her. The defending champion is expected to book yet another final berth.
The second semifinal sees Karolina Pliskova lock horns against Madison Keys. Keys is coming at the back of a successful Australian Open campaign, where she ended as the runner-up. However, Pliskova will outlast the American in a close match.
Final Prediction: Karolina Pliskova vs Aryna Sabalenka
Final
Aryna Sabalenka will successfully defend her title at the Doha Open, after defeating Karolina Pliskova in the finals. The Belarusian is a fierce hitter of the ball and has almost all shots in her book. Sabalenka is one of the best hard court players in the women’s game at the moment, and she will certainly live up to her expectations in Doha.
To Lift the Title: Aryna Sabalenka
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Nirmit Mehta
(2425 Articles Published)