Qatar Open 2023: Coco Gauff vs Petra Kvitova preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (4) Coco Gauff vs Petra Kvitova.
Tournament: Qatar TotalEnergies Open.
Round: Second Round (Round of 16).
Venue: Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, Doha.
Category: WTA 500.
Surface: Outdoor Hardcourt.
Prize money: $780,637.
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video.
Coco Gauff vs Petra Kvitova preview
Fourth seed Coco Gauff will lock horns with two-time champion Petra Kvitova in the second round of the Qatar Open 2023.
World No. 6 Gauff made a fantastic start to the year, winning her third career title in Auckland without dropping a set. She maintained that level of excellence in the initial rounds of the Australian Open, winning her first three matches in straight sets.
However, her eight-match winning streak came to an end in the fourth round with a 7-5, 6-3 loss to Jelena Ostapenko. The 18-year-old will now be eager to bounce back from that defeat with a strong showing in the Middle East.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has struggled for consistency for quite some time. Sandwiched between her early losses last year were her Eastbourne title win, runner-up finish in Cincinnati, and quarterfinal appearances in Miami, Dubai and Ostrava.
The Czech has notched a few big wins this season, most notably over Jessica Pegula at the United Cup and Elena Rybakina at the Adelaide International 2. However, sustaining her high level for a long time continues to remain an issue for the World No. 13.
That's why other than a last-eight finish at the Adelaide International 2, the southpaw hasn't had any deep runs so far this year. Kvitova will be hopeful that her arrival in Doha will bring about a turnaround in her fortunes, having lifted the trophy at this tournament back in 2018 and 2021.
On Tuesday, she had smooth sailing in the first round as she began her quest for a third trophy with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Zhang Shuai.
Coco Gauff vs Petra Kvitova head-to-head
Gauff and Kvitova have never squared off on the tour before. Hence, their head-to-head currently stands at a 0-0 deadlock.
Coco Gauff vs Petra Kvitova odds
(Odds sourced from oddschecker.com)
Coco Gauff vs Petra Kvitova prediction
Petra Kvitova's serve was on song in the first round, as she produced eight aces against Zhang Shuai. The Czech maintained her aggressive ball-striking right from the get-go, winning 84% of her first-serve points. This should boost her confidence ahead of her meeting with Gauff.
Kvitova's serve and first-strike tennis will be key to her success against the American. Although she continues to remain inconsistent, the southpaw can still pack a punch against the world's best, as evident from her wins over Pegula and Rybakina.
Gauff has improved her attacking game in recent times and can smoothly transition from defense to offense. However, holding her own against Kvitova's power could be a challenge if the Czech finds her range.
The only area of concern for the former champion, however, is her break point conversion. Against Zhang, she managed to convert only five out of 11 opportunities — a statistic that needs drastic improvement against Gauff.
If Kvitova can cut down on her unforced errors and consistently take her chances, she should find herself in the last eight at Doha yet again.
Pick: Petra Kvitova to win in three sets.