The WTA Qatar Open is upon us, and Coco Gauff is back, seemingly putting her Australian Open disappointment behind her. Last year saw both Gauff and Marta Kostyuk make not-so-impressive runs in Doha, with Kostyuk taking a walkover and Gauff losing early-both in the R32. This year, the American superstar, a force to be reckoned with, has her sights set on nothing less than the title. But her path to victory won’t be easy, starting with a challenging first-round match against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk. This has all the makings of a thrilling encounter, so the question is: who will emerge victorious?

Coco Gauff vs Marta Kostyuk: Preview

World No. 3 Coco Gauff has been one of the most consistent players on tour, regularly making deep runs in Grand Slam and performing well at WTA 1000 events. Gauff was on an 13-match winning streak before her Australian Open quarterfinal loss to Paula Badosa. She has not played since Melbourne and will be looking to regain momentum in Doha.

On the other hand, her rival, Marta Kostyuk, is entering the contest after securing a R64 win against Zeynep Sonmez in Doha. She delivered a solid performance, defeating Sonmez 6-3, 6-3.

In that match, Kostyuk scored 82 points compared to Sonmez’s 66 and played aggressively, hitting 25 winners. She served 2 aces and committed only 3 double faults. Despite losing her serve twice, she saved 10 break points and converted 5 out of 10 break chances. She landed 60% of her first serves, winning 61% of those points, while also securing 59% of points behind her second serve.

Gauff vs Kostyuk: Head-to-head

Coco Gauff holds an edge. Out of the four encounters, Gauff has a strong 3-1 lead over her rival. Here are the detailed head-to-head stats.

• WTA Adelaide International (2022): Coco Gauff, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.
• Australian Open (2023): Coco Gauff, 7-6, 6-7, 6-2.
• WTA Stuttgart (2024): Marta Kostyuk, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6.
• WTA Wuhan Open(2024): Coco Gauff, 6-4, 6-1.

Prediction: Coco Gauff could secure an easy win and make her way into the next round

Kostyuk’s powerful groundstrokes and strong return game make her a dangerous opponent, capable of taking control of rallies. However, she has struggled with consistency, especially against top-tier players like Gauff. While Kostyuk does hold a victory over Gauff on indoor clay, the American has dominated their hard-court meetings, giving her a clear advantage in this matchup.

Gauff’s success on hard courts has been evident in their previous encounters. She has beaten Kostyuk three times on this surface, proving she has the upper hand when it comes to faster conditions. However, Kostyuk has shown she can be competitive, with three of their four meetings going to a deciding set. This suggests that while Gauff is the favorite, she may still face a tough battle.

The playing conditions in Doha could also play a role in the outcome. Gauff hasn’t had her best results at this tournament in the past, but given her strong start to the season, she remains the player to beat. If she finds her rhythm early, she should be able to take control of the match.

Prediction: Kostyuk may challenge Gauff at times, especially if she can capitalize on her aggressive style. However, Gauff’s overall consistency and form should give her the edge in this contest, helping her advance to the next round.