After seeing the dominance of Iga Swiatek last week, tennis fans in Doha were treated again this week with the ATP 250, with Andy Murray pulling off one incredible win after another one in deep third-set dramatics at 35 years old. Awaiting him in the final is a resurgent Daniil Medvedev on an eight-match win streak. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who do you think will take the title?
ATP Doha Final Prediction
Daniil Medvedev vs Andy Murray
Head-to-head: Medvedev 2-0 Murray
After a disappointing third-round exit at the Australian Open that saw him drop out of the Top 10, Medvedev came into February with much to prove. The Russian stumbled a bit initially, losing the first set of his Rotterdam first round against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. From there, Medvedev not only came back to win the match but would drop just 17 games en route to the final, beating Botic van de Zandschulp, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Grigor Dimitrov. In the final, the 27-year-old defeated Jannik Sinner 5-7 6-2 6-2.
After picking up his first title of the season, Medvedev entered Doha with a straight-set win over Liam Broady but was in trouble in his second match. Christopher O’Connell came close to pulling off the upset over him but the Russian won out 7-5 in the third. Medvedev steadied the ship with an impressive showing in a straight-set win over Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Murray already produced two incredible comebacks at the Australian Open, defeating Matteo Berrettini and Thanasi Kokkinakis. The 35-year-old picked up where he left off in Doha, saving two match points in a third-set tiebreak against Lorenzo Sonego. Murray then took out Alexander Zverev 7-5 in the third but also had to come back from a set down against French qualifier Alexandre Muller. The Brit’s wildest match came against Jiri Lehecka in the semifinals though, bageling the young Czech to start but then saving five match points in the decider to win 8-6 in the tiebreak.
Medvedev has won their two previous meetings in straight sets and though I expect a huge fight from Murray, I think the Russian will win once more.
Prediction: Medvedev in 3
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
