It promises to be an entertaining start at WTA Doha with 12 matches on the slate on day one at the Qatar Open. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Emma Raducanu vs Ekaterina Alexandrova. But who will book their spot in the second round in Qatar?

WTA Doha Day 1 Predictions

Maria Sakkari vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse

Head-to-head: Sakkari 1-0 Ruse

Their last meeting took place in 2015, so it’s not exactly that relevant by now. But over the years it has been Maria Sakkari who reached greater heights in tennis and generally wouldn’t be vulnerable to an upset here, but she is still struggling to recover her form after being forced to cut her 2024 season short. Elena-Gabriela Ruse is a dangerous player on her day (almost earned two major wins at Slams recently, Paula Badosa at the US Open and Madison Keys at the Australian Open), yet her performance last week in Cluj doesn’t suggest she’s in top shape now.

Prediction: Sakkari in 2
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Greet Minnen vs Leylah Fernandez

Head-to-head: first meeting

Leylah Fernandez hasn’t been setting the world on fire this season, but she’s posting wins at every tournament and you need to execute your game at a very high standard to beat her. Greet Minnen will be feeling pretty confident about her level after coming through the qualifying and the Belgian definitely does have the weapons to trouble most player. However, Fernandez is such a strong counter-puncher and the WTA Doha court also seems to be playing quite slowly which may make it tough for Minnen to keep her error count down.

Prediction: Fernandez in 2

Magdalena Frech vs Beatriz Haddad Maia

Head-to-head: Haddad Maia 3-1 Frech

Beatriz Haddad Maia can be a puzzling player and from time she suffers some very surprising upsets. But she can also fire up at any time and has already been in the quarterfinals here two years ago, defeating Daria Kasatkina and Paula Badosa along the way. Magdalena Frech won their last meeting in Wuhan, but in much quicker conditions. While the Pole is a grinder, very often it will be tough for her to get away with the lack of pace/depth on her shots when the courts are slow. Haddad Maia will be the decisive force in this matchup, for better or worse.

Prediction: Haddad Maia in 3
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Amanda Anisimova vs Victoria Azarenka

Head-to-head: Anisimova 1-1 Azarenka

The years go by and Victoria Azarenka is still at the top of women’s tennis, although the start to the season in Australia makes you question whether we won’t see any significant decline this year. She’ll need to find her level quickly as these sort of performances just won’t cut it. Amanda Anisimova keeps struggling with her health, but her quality is still elite. If she’s going to arrive in Doha in good physical shape, this is her match to lose.

Prediction: Anisimova in 2

Main photo credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images