The Middle East Swing continues with attention turning to the WTA Doha event – the WTA Qatar Open. The first WTA 1000 tournament of 2025 has a stacked draw and there are plenty of exciting matches on the slate on day one. As ever, were here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Amanda Anisimova vs Victoria Azarenka. But who will book their spot in the second round?
WTA Doha Day 1 Predictions
Yuan Yue vs Caroline Garcia
Head-to-head: first meeting
Caroline Garcia is still chasing her first win of the season and the pressure is building on the former World No. 4. She has made the quarterfinals in Doha twice in the past, but there has also been a spate of early exits too. If Garcia is to get that elusive first win, then this would be the perfect opportunity. Her opponent Yuan Yue is on a four-match losing run. And perhaps of concern, the Chinese has won just one set in that time.
Prediction: Garcia in 3
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Elise Mertens vs Clara Tauson
Head-to-head: first meeting
Elise Mertens hasn’t quite enjoyed her trips to Doha in recent years. Since her sensational title win in 2019, Mertens has failed to progress beyond the second round three times and has tallied just four main draw wins in four visits. If she is to change that, then it has to be this week. Mertens is 10-2 this season after winning the WTA 250 in Singapore.
Clara Tauson is making just her second appearance at the Qatar Open and will be one of the dangerous floaters in the draw. The Dane is playing top-10-level tennis and the early WTA race vindicates this point (eighth in the live race). She bagged her third Tour-level title in Auckland last month (albeit in fortuitous circumstances) and was a semifinalist in her most recent tournament in Linz. This should be a high-quality match with the attack-minded Tauson holding the edge.
Prediction: Tauson in 3
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Elina Avanesyan vs Wang Xinyu
Head-to-head: Wang 3-0 Avanesyan
Wang Xinyu has a perfect record against Elina Avanesyan, but her dominance of this matchup was long before the Armenian broke into the top 50. They both own identical win-loss records this season (5-4) and each has contested a WTA semifinal. On the balance of play, Avanesyan has impressed the most with a top 10 win in the bag (defeated Paula Badosa in Brisbane). She’s the likelier to elevate her level and win this match.
Prediction: Avanesyan in 3
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Emma Raducanu vs Ekaterina Alexandrova
Head-to-head: Raducanu 1-0 Alexandrova
Emma Raducanu’s wild card allocation for this tournament raised many eyebrows. Some critics believe she would be better off competing in low-profile tournaments to resuscitate confidence by winning matches. She’s on a three-match losing streak right now and her last win was at the Australian Open. Ekaterina Alexandrova lost to Raducanu in Melbourne in two tie-breaks but has recently hit a purple patch. The Russian lifted the WTA 500 title in Linz over a week ago and took time off in Abu Dhabi. Raducanu’s talent is unwavering but questions remain on her lack of consistent match play and injuries. Expect the in-form Alexandrova to get her revenge.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
Main photo credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
