Ons Jabeur, the highest-ranked Arab woman ever in the sport, is hitting the courts in Doha in just a few hours! She’s kicking off her Qatar Open campaign against the in-form American, McCartney Kessler, in the first round. Jabeur has a bit of a mixed history here – a disappointing early exit last year, but also two quarterfinal appearances in previous years. For Kessler, this is her very first time playing in this WTA 1000 event. So, the big question is: can she pull off an upset against the former world number 2?

Ons Jabeur vs McCartney Kessler: Preview

In 2025, she has already made two QF runs! The first one came at the Brisbane International and then the second one came recently at the Abu Dhabi Open. Elena Rybakina defeated her in that match by 2-6,6-4,6(4)-7.

This year at the Hobart International, McCartney Kessler beat Belgium’s Elise Mertens in the final. However, she’ll be entering this match following her three-set defeat to Ashley Krueger in the R32 of the Abu Dhabi Open.

Jabeur vs Kessler: Head-to-Head

Ons Jabeur, hasn’t ever played against McCartney Kessler in her career so far. So, this will be their first meeting and hence, the H2H scoreline is now at 0-0!

Prediction: Jabeur to win in three sets

Ons Jabeur comes with a vast experience on the women’s tour and she has been part of several big matches in her career. Although she might be struggling a bit with her injury concerns recently, we cannot rule out a fully fit Jabeur against someone who is comparatively a less experienced competitor. So, McCartney Kessler, upsetting the ‘Minister of Happiness’ on Arab soil, looks a bit unlikely at the moment. Is that it?

Having said that, we must not forget that Kessler has won quite a few titles in the last few months, so we can surely expect some fight from this American in this epic battle. Now, if we take a look at their records in 2024. Ons Jabeur (35) had a win-loss record of 16-15 in 2024, but in 2025 it’s 8-4 as of now. On the other side, Kessler (55) had a win-loss record of 8-10 in the last season, but in this season, she has recorded 6-3 so far.

Now, if we shift our focus to their playing styles, McCartney Kessler is known for her steady baseline game and attacking mindset. She has a big serve and a strong two-handed backhand in her armory. With her strong serve and consistent baseline play, Kessler has been dominating opponents with strategic shot placements and swift footwork. On her day, Kessler can really become a really tough competitor to beat.

Ons Jabeur, on the other hand, loves bringing variation to her game, and she has a unique ability to hit some extraordinary shots from extraordinary positions on the court. Jabeur can also disguise her opponents with her incredible slices and drop shots. She can hit winners in a variety of ways, including backhand drop shots from the baseline or forehands up the line.

It’ll be important for the American to throw a challenge at Jabeur right from the start, or else it’d be very difficult for her to bring a favorable outcome from this match. Considering all these factors, I feel the experienced (read fit) Ons Jabeur will have the last laugh in their first encounter!