The action is coming thick and fast at the WTA 1000 in Doha as we enter into the third day of what has been an exciting tournament. Day 3 is loaded with many exciting matches but we take a look at four of them in this piece to predict who will make it to the next phase.
WTA Doha Day 3 Predictions
Elena Rybakina vs Lin Zhu
Head–to–Head: Rybakina 1 vs 1 Zhu
Lin Zhu made easy work of Varvara Gracheva in the first round with a commanding 6-1, 6-1 win but it appears that is all she will take from this tournament as she encounters a red-hot Elena Rybakina fresh from her victory in Abu Dhabi and intent on securing her maiden win here.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2
Emma Navarro vs Elise Mertens
Head–to–Head: Navarro 1 vs 0 Mertens
Only Coco Gauff and Dayana Yastremska have been able to put clogs in Emma Navarro’s rollercoaster start to 2024 and it doesn’t look like Elise Mertens can stop her in her tracks. The Belgian will be looking to avenge her defeat in the Hobart final but hasn’t won consecutive matches in six attempts and that trend should continue against a player who’s in blistering form.
Prediction: Navarro in 3
Jelena Ostapenko vs Anhelina Kalinina
Head–to–Head: Ostapenko 2 – 0 Kalinina
Fresh from her WTA Linz final demolition of Ekaterina Alexandrova, Jelena Ostapenko arrives in Doha to face an opponent who hasn’t taken a set off her in two attempts. Kalinina was clinical in dispatching Emma Raducanu in the previous round but Ostapenko is a different class and will be determined to go one better than the 2016 final. Give me the Latvian to make this quick.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 2
Karolina Pliskova vs Anastasia Potapova
Head–to–Head: First Meeting
Karolina Pliskova hadn’t won consecutive matches in her last 14 tournaments leading to the event in Cluj Napoca. The Czech veteran stormed her way to the title without dropping a set and still arrived in Doha in time to defeat Anna Kalinskaya in the first round. She must now be reeling from an exhausting week as she takes on Anastasia Potapova in the next round. This match entirely depends on Pliskova’s disposition but I sense she may just be too exhausted to get past a very capable opponent.
Prediction: Potapova in 3
Main Photo Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
