Some of the tournament favorites will be in action at WTA Doha on Monday with 13 matches on the slate on day two in the desert. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match, including Paula Badosa vs Katerina Siniakova and Iga Swiatek vs Maria Sakkari. But who will book their spot in the second round?
WTA Doha Day 2 Predictions
Daria Kasatkina vs Polina Kudermetova
Head-to-head: Kudermetova 1-0 Kasatkina
Daria Kasatkina looked like she home and hosed when she played Polina Kudermetova in Brisbane last month. The world #11 won the opening set 6-1 in half an hour and led 4-0 in the third set, but still managed to lose the match. That win set the stage for the young Kudermetova to enjoy a breakout run which took her to the final. However, sustaining that exceptional form at the top level is proving to be a challenge for the 21-year-old who lost her last two main draw matches and is playing in the WTA Doha main draw as a lucky loser. Expect Kasatkina to topple her countrywoman in their rematch.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
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Donna Vekic vs Linda Noskova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Donna Vekic hasn’t won a main draw match in Doha since 2016. Admittedly, she’s missed a handful of editions of the Qatar Open in recent years, but played there last season and lost in the first round to Katerina Siniakova. It will be another Czech waiting on the wings to take down Vekic again. Noskova started the Middle East Swing excellently with a semifinal run in Abu Dhabi and with such optimism in her game, she’s bound to extend Vekic’s dismal record in this tournament.
Prediction: Noskova in 3
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Marketa Vondrousova vs Elina Svitolina
Head-to-head: Vondrousova 3-3 Svitolina
Marketa Vondrousova’s comeback from injury in Abu Dhabi exceeded expectations. The Czech lefty reached her first quarterfinal since the 2024 French Open and lost to eventual champion Belinda Bencic in two tight sets. Elina Svitolina played two tournaments in January with largely contrasting fortunes. She was a quarterfinalist at the Australian Open but lost in her opening match in Linz to Anna Blinkova. This is a very interesting rivalry with each player tallying three wins in the head-to-head. If Vondrousova’s body is in optimal condition she should be favored to win and nudge ahead in the series.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 3
Main photo credit: Cara Owsley/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
