WTA Qatar Open: Paula Badosa vs. Leylah Annie Fernandez Preview; Head-to-Head, and Prediction

Feb 13, 2024 | 1:43 AM EST

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The tennis community can’t keep quiet, as the Qatar Open is currently underway at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. The opening-round fixtures have already featured some high-octane performances, and now the stage is set up for a high-profile match in the next rounds of the outdoor hard-court event.

In her second match in Doha, the former world No. 2 Paula Badosa will lock horns with the young Canadian tennis sensation Leylah Annie Fernandez. It will be interesting to see who emerges victorious in this exciting encounter, as both WTA superstars are vying for a place in the round of 16.

Paula Badosa vs. Leylah Annie Fernandez: Qatar Open round of 32 match preview

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After packing up an injury that forced her to withdraw from the second round of the Hua Hin Championships, Paula Badosa is now back on the court at the Qatar Ladies Open. As she will now be looking to climb up the rankings this season, the Spanish tennis star has started her campaign in Doha on a high note. In her opening match, the former world No. 2 player defeated her American opponent Ashlyn Krueger in a three-set game, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

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Leylah Annie Fernandez, on the other hand, is coming to the Doha Open after a lackluster campaign at the Australian Open, where she faced a second-round defeat. Now entering the WTA 1000 event as an unseeded participant, the young Canadian tennis player breezed past her 12th-seeded Russian opponent, Liudmila Samsonova, in the first-round match.

Badosa vs. Annie Fernandez: Head-to-Head

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The second-round match between Badosa and Annie Fernandez at the Qatar Open will also mark their fourth meeting on the women’s circuit. In all their previous meetings at the ASB Classic, Indian Wells, and the Charleston Open, it was the Spanish tennis star who defeated her Canadian colleague and currently has a 3-0 lead in their H2H record.

Prediction: Badosa to prevail in the second-round match of the Doha Open

Even though there is a lot of skepticism surrounding Badosa owing to her recent injury woes, the three WTA singles title champion will most likely overcome Annie Fernandez in this second-round match. Badosa has won all three of her previous games against her 21-year-old opponent without dropping a single set.

Who do you think will prevail in this exciting Qatar Open match between Badosa and Annie Fernandez? Let us know in the comments section.

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