via Reuters
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – June 7, 2021 Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in action during her fourth round match against Poland’s Iga Swiatek REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
via Reuters
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – June 7, 2021 Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in action during her fourth round match against Poland’s Iga Swiatek REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
Fans can’t keep quiet as the Qatar Open is almost underway in Doha. Since its inception in 2001, the Qatar Ladies Open has gained popularity for its fiercely competitive matches on outdoor hard courts. Continuing its high standards, the latest edition will also feature some spectacular games between the top WTA players who will compete at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.
The former world No. 28 Marta Kostyuk will square off against her American colleague Caroline Dolehide in her first-round encounter. Given that Kostyuk and Dolehide are both looking for a deep run in the tournament, it will be intriguing to watch who prevails in this exciting match.
Marta Kostyuk vs. Caroline Dolehide: Qatar Open first-round match preview
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Following her quarterfinal finish at the Australian Open, Marta Kostyuk will now compete on the outdoor hard courts of the Qatar Ladies Open. As an unseeded participant, the Ukrainian tennis player swept aside the likes of Claire Liu, Elise Mertens, and Elina Avanesyan in the initial round of the Grand Slam event in Melbourne. Kostyuk also thumped Maria Timofeeva in the fourth round before she tasted a quarterfinal defeat at the hands of reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff.
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Caroline Dolehide, on the other hand, is coming to the tournament after she failed to secure a spot in the main draw of the Abu Dhabi Open. In her first qualifier match, the American tennis player was stunned by Linda Fruhvirtova in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. Prior to the Abu Dhabi Open, Dolehide also participated in the Australian Open, where she was knocked out after the second round.
Kostyuk vs. Dolehide: Head-to-Head
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The opening-round match between Kostyuk and Dolehide at the WTA 1000 event in Doha will also mark their first meeting on the WTA circuit. With no prior confrontations on the court, the WTA players’ head-to-head record is currently tied at 0-0.
Prediction: Kostyuk to prevail in the first-round match of the Doha Open
The Ukrainian tennis player is in stellar form at the start of this season, as she secured consecutive quarterfinal finishes at the Adelaide International and the Australian Open. Given her recent performances on the hard court surface and her current ranking, Kostyuk will most likely come out on top in the first-round match against her American rival.
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