Qatar Open 2023: Coco Gauff vs Veronika Kudermetova preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (4) Coco Gauff vs (8) Veronika Kudermetova.
Date: February 16, 2023.
Tournament: Qatar TotalEnergies Open.
Round: Quarterfinals.
Venue: Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, Doha.
Category: WTA 500.
Surface: Outdoor Hardcourt.
Match timing: 3:30 pm local time, 12:30 pm GMT, 7:30 am EST, 6:00 pm IST.
Prize money: $780,637.
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video.
Coco Gauff vs Veronika Kudermetova preview
Fourth seed Coco Gauff will square off against eighth seed Veronika Kudermetova in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open 2023 on Thursday.
Gauff has commenced the 2023 season in spectacular fashion. The 18-year-old won her third career title in Auckland to make a dream start to the year. She then cruised through the first three rounds of the Australian Open.
However, 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko sent her packing in their last-16 encounter.
The young American hasn't let that setback deter her. On Wednesday, the World No. 6 beat two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 6-3, 7-6 (6) to book her place in the Doha quarterfinals.
World No. 11 Veronika Kudermetova has made a fine start to the year as well.
She reached the quarterfinals of her first tournament at the Adelaide International 1. The Russian went a step further the very next week to make it to the last four at the Adelaide International 2.
Following a disappointing second-round exit at the Australian Open, the 25-year-old bounced back in Abu Dhabi last week, where she made the quarters.
Kudermetova has now made it back-to-back appearances in the last eight in the Middle East with a strong performance in Doha this week. Following a gritty three-set tussle with former French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova that lasted three hours, she beat comeback queen Sofia Kenin 6-2, 7-5 on Wednesday.
Coco Gauff vs Veronika Kudermetova head-to-head
Gauff and Kudermetova have never squared off on the tour before. Hence, their head-to-head currently stands at a 0-0 deadlock.
Coco Gauff vs Veronika Kudermetova odds
(Odds sourced from bet365)
Coco Gauff vs Veronika Kudermetova prediction
Coco Gauff did a fine job of navigating her way past an attacking player like Petra Kvitova in the earlier round. Her serve and excellent foot speed were the key to her success against the 32-year-old.
The American produced seven aces, won 73% of her first-serve points and 81% of her second-serve points to keep up the pressure on the two-time Major champion. Gauff also converted the only breakpoint she secured in the entire match.
However, it needs to be mentioned that Kvitova fluffed whatever chances she had with her 31 unforced errors, making it slightly easier for her young opponent. Gauff will now face yet another aggressive strokemaker, who is just sharper and way more confident than the struggling Kvitova at the moment.
Kudermetova has a superb serve that has rained down 20 aces so far in two matches in Doha. The Russian has been clutch all week, saving eight of the 10 break points she faced in the first match and all five in her second.
If she can maintain that same level of intensity without conceding easy points through errors, Kudermetova has a good chance of making it to the last four at the Qatar Open.
Pick: Veronika Kudermetova to win in three sets.