Qatar Open 2022: Women's singles draw analysis, preview & prediction
Eight of the world's top-10 women's singles players will be in action as the season's first WTA 1000 tournament, the Qatar Open, kicks off on Sunday in Doha.
World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, who lifted the title in 2020, leads the 56-player field. French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova, Indian Wells winner Paula Badosa and St. Petersburg titlist Anett Kontaveit round out the top four seeds.
Last year's runner-up Garbine Muguruza has been allotted the fifth seeding. Maria Sakkari, Iga Swiatek and Ons Jabeur are the sixth, seventh and eighth seeds, respectively.
The top eight seeds at this year's Qatar Open have all received a first-round bye.
Also in the mix are former winners Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka and defending champion Petra Kvitova.
With some big names in the draw, high-octane action is guaranteed for the fans over the course of the week.
On that note, here's an in-depth look at how the draw might unfold:
First Quarter: Aryna Sabalenka faces challenge from Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, Marketa Vondrousova
Seeded players: (1) Aryna Sabalenka, (7) Iga Swiatek, (11) Elena Rybakina and (13) Angelique Kerber.
Expected quarterfinal: Aryna Sabalenka vs Iga Swiatek.
Dark horse: Elena Rybakina.
Analysis: World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, who headlines the top quarter, will be desperate to get some match wins under her belt. The Belarusian has struggled for rhythm this season and has managed to notch up a grand total of four wins in as many tournaments so far.
Having won the Qatar Open a couple of years ago, the World No. 2 will hope to rediscover her touch on her return to Doha. But the 23-year-old needs to hit top gear right away as her path is riddled with danger.
Sabalenka will begin her campaign against the winner of the first-round clash between Berlin champion Liudmila Samsonova and 2022 Australian Open quarterfinalist Alize Cornet.
She could then meet former champion Vera Zvonareva, 2014 runner-up Angelique Kerber or Dubai quarterfinalist Jil Teichmann in a tricky third round.
Main draw in Doha (WTA 1000), where 8 of the Top 10 are set to play.
Notable 1Rs:
Bencic-Tauson
Gauff-Rogers
Azarenka-Putintseva
Kasatkina-Tomljanovic. https://t.co/MYCIxRolvw
The other half of this quarter is led by Australian Open semifinalist Iga Swiatek. To reach the last eight, the Pole needs to navigate a difficult section of the draw. This section consists of Adelaide runner-up Elena Rybakina and Dubai semifinalist Marketa Vondrousova.
Both Rybakina and Vondrousova have had their fair share of physical setbacks this year. Rybakina withdrew from her St. Petersburg second-round match due to illness, while Vondrousova gave a walkover to Veronika Kudermetova in the Dubai semis due to a right adductor injury.
Their fitness remains questionable, but if they are back to their 100% before the start of the tournament, they could upset all predictions.
Predicted quarterfinal: Iga Swiatek def. Jil Teichmann.
Second Quarter: Maria Sakkari, Simona Halep, Jessica Pegula look to topple Paula Badosa
Seeded players: (3) Paula Badosa, (6) Maria Sakkari, (9) Jessica Pegula and (14) Coco Gauff.
Expected quarterfinal: Paula Badosa vs Maria Sakkari.
Dark horse: Simona Halep.
Analysis: Sydney champion Paula Badosa made a disappointing start to the Middle Eastern swing, falling in the first round in Dubai. Seeded third in Doha, the Spaniard will hope to get back to winning ways.
She doesn't have the luxury to relax after a first-round bye, thanks to a litany of top talents in the second quarter of the draw.
Badosa will face either Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic or the fast-rising Clara Tauson in her first match of the tournament. A win could pit her against 2014 Doha champion Simona Halep, who is coming off a semifinal appearance in Dubai.
14th seed Coco Gauff is another threat lurking in this section of the draw.
Sixth seed Maria Sakkari headlines the other half of this quarter. The Greek produced some scintillating tennis to reach the final in St. Petersburg last week. Ninth seed Jessica Pegula, an Australian Open quarterfinalist, could be an obstance in Sakkari's path to the last eight.
Predicted quarterfinal: Maria Sakkari def. Simona Halep.
Third Quarter: Can Veronika Kudermetova, Petra Kvitova and Ons Jabeur stop Anett Kontaveit?
Seeded players: (4) Anett Kontaveit, (8) Ons Jabeur, (10) Elina Svitolina and (16) Elise Mertens.
Expected quarterfinal: Anett Kontaveit vs Ons Jabeur.
Dark horse: Veronika Kudermetova.
Analysis: Who can stop the in-form Anett Kontaveit? Even though the Estonian's most recent successes have come indoors, she still packs a punch outdoors.
Flying high at a career-best No. 6 ranking, the St. Petersburg champion will look to carry the momentum into the Qatar Open and make it deep into the draw.
She could face the talented Ana Konjuh in her opener. Kontaveit could then have either 2019 winner Elise Mertens or two-time champion Petra Kvitova standing in her way.
Interestingly, Kvitova has drawn Irina-Camelia Begu, who knocked her out of St. Petersburg a week back.
Veronika
Jelena 🆚 Veronika
For the #DDFTennis title 🏆 https://t.co/KtjUoLEuz2
Should Kontaveit make the last eight, one of eighth seed Ons Jabeur, 10th seed Elina Svitolina and the in-form Veronika Kudermetova could be waiting for her.
Kudermetova looks the likeliest player to make it that far. The Russian has made a brilliant start to the season, reaching the final in Melbourne Summer Set 1 last month and Dubai this week. She will be keen to keep the run going at the Qatar Open.
Predicted quarterfinal: Anett Kontaveit def. Veronika Kudermetova.
Fourth Quarter: Barbora Krejcikova, Garbine Muguruza, Victoria Azarenka, Jelena Ostapenko packed in the same quarter
Seeded players: (2) Barbora Krejcikova, (5) Garbine Muguruza, (12) Victoria Azarenka and (15) Jelena Ostapenko.
Expected quarterfinal: Barbora Krejcikova vs Garbine Muguruza.
Dark horse: Amanda Anisimova.
Analysis: As many as four Grand Slam champions in Barbora Krejcikova, Garbine Muguruza, Victoria Azarenka and Jelena Ostapenko are huddled together in a stacked bottom quarter of the draw.
The resurgent Amanda Anisimova, who made the Australian Open fourth round, is in the mix as well, making for a highly competitive section of the draw.
Sydney runner-up Krejcikova will be eager to bounce back from her pre-quarterfinal defeat in Dubai. She will kickstart her title challenge against Magda Linette or Alison Riske after a first-round bye.
The third round will present a stern test for the Czech. Dubai finalist Jelena Ostapenko is slated to meet her, provided the Latvian is able to overcome Anisimova in the second round.
The other half of this quarter features both two-time champion Azarenka and two-time runner-up Muguruza. The Spaniard might have to tackle the highly talented Sorana Cirstea as early as the second round.
Azarenka, who has drawn Yulia Putintseva in her opener, is in line to meet reigning WTA Finals champion Muguruza in the third round.
Predicted quarterfinal: Barbora Krejcikova def. Garbine Muguruza.
Predicted Semifinals
Maria Sakkari def. Iga Swiatek.
Anett Kontaveit def. Barbora Krejcikova.
Predicted Final
Anett Kontaveit def. Maria Sakkari.