The fourth Premier event on the 2019 WTA Tour will kick off play on Monday as the top players at the Qatar Total Open look to take home the trophy, alongside the prize money of $188,280 for the title.
First Quarter: Halep the overwhelming favourite
The first quarter is filled with a bunch of qualifiers and lucky-loser spots with three of them available in this seven-player section. World number three #SimonaHalep, coming off fresh from her Fed Cup heroics in the Czech Republic, will open her campaign against either the dangerous #LesiaTsurenko, who was feeling under the weather last week during Fed Cup, and #CarolineGarcia, a former top-10 player who also excelled for her country over the weekends.
To reach the quarterfinals, recently-promoted ninth-seed #JuliaGoerges has an easy job in Doha — ease past two qualifiers or lucky-losers for a potential meeting with Halep. The German initially received a tough draw when she had Sevastova in the opening round with Strycova potentially awaiting, but due to Ashleigh Barty’s withdrawal, she was part of the draw shuffle.
Prediction: Halep d. Goerges
Second Quarter: Wozniacki and Svitolina battle it out
Fourth seed #ElinaSvitolina received a wildcard into the tournament, but her opening-round opponent will pose an extremely tough challenge for her. She will face the winner of a blockbuster first-round hard-hitting encounter between #MihaelaBuzarnescu and #JelenaOstapenko. Ostapenko has recently been out of form but led Latvia to the World Group Play-off for the first time in history. Buzarnescu, who suffered a scary-looking ankle injury in Cincinnati against Svitolina, has never looked like the same player as she had lost eight consecutive matches since then.
#AliaksandraSasnovich, who played a pivotal role in Belarus’ win over Germany, will look to adapt to the conditions quickly and prepare herself for a tricky and sly opponent in #HsiehSuwei. The winner will most likely earn the golden opportunity to face sixth seed and world number 10 #CarolineWozniacki, who has been unable to meet expectations this year as the Dane is prone to an upset alert.
Prediction: Svitolina d. Sasnovich
Third Quarter: Kerber leads the way
World number seven #AnastasijaSevastova avoided Goerges in the opening round following a series of withdrawal, and she will now face a qualifier or lucky-loser to start the week. However, a mouthwatering clash against #BarboraStrycova in the second round might be highly-anticipated, should the Czech get past wildcard #FatmaAlNabhani.
World number three #AngeliqueKerber will be looking to regain her form after a disappointing end to her Australian swing. Receiving a bye as the third seed, Kerber will either face a qualifier or nemesis #AnettKontaveit, whom she had never beaten previously. The German has been bagelled by the Estonian on two separate occasions as well.
Prediction: Sevastova d. Kontaveit
Fourth Quarter: Packed section with immense quality
Fifth seed #KikiBertens was handed a tough draw as she opens against the hard-hitting #CamilaGiorgi, although the Italian had a poor weekend while representing her country at the Fed Cup. There will be an interesting first-round clash between wildcard #OnsJabeur and #CarlaSuarezNavarro, and the Tunisian will be looking to cause the upset as she definitely has the ability to pull off the huge win.
#EliseMertens and #KaterinaSiniakova were both on country duty during the weekends, and both of them come into Doha hoping to improve their game after disappointing outings. Mertens lost both of her singles matches while the doubles world number one Siniakova was beaten in a deciding doubles rubber to snap the Czech’s winning streak. The winner will face second seed #KarolinaPliskova, who was Siniakova’s teammate just a day ago.
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