Its Chilly In The Desert.

Recap

The main draw kicked off in Doha on Monday with 5 first round matches taking to the court, and with the temperature drastically cooler than in Dubai last week, players tried to keep warm with towels draped over them during change overs. Kicking things off in the dry desert air was a highly anticipated match between the backboard Flavia Pennetta and the ever erratic Svetlana Kuznetsova; Pennetta managed to grind out a tough three set win. Second up was a match that was expected to create some extreme fireworks. Angie Kerber vs. Azarenka had the potential to be a thriller. Unfortunately, it fizzled into a one-sided affair as Kerber never managed to lift herself out of the slump that she has been stuck in all year. Venus Williams turned around a one set deficit and beat Casey Dellacqua by wining 12 of the last 14 games, and Zahlavova Strycova defeated the hapless (except at Wimbledon) Sabine Lisicki in two sets. Tomorrow will be the last of the first rounds and some of the second. Here are some to look out for.

Matches of the day

Karolina Pliskova vs Stephanie Voegele- This would not usually be a match to watch for me, at least not with the form that Pliskova has been in this year. However, having reached her first premiere final just last week in Dubai, I am interested to see how her body will hold up. Voegele is a player that has few weapons but she does have the ability to stay in points and frustrate opponents. If she can absorb some of the pace that Pliskova is throwing her way then she may be able to make a match of this one. Pliskova though has proved that she is definitely not a one trick pony, she has a serve that is behind only the Williams sisters, she slaps winners from both sides, and she has a strong desire to win. I think that at some point this week Pliskova will run out of steam, sadly for Voegele, I don't think that this is that time. Look for a closer match than anticipated but for Pliskova to bludgeon her way into the second round.
Prediction: Pliskova def Voegele in two sets (1 tight, 1 easy)

Ons Jabeur vs Zarina Diyas- I had to pick this match simply because I'm African and there is an African involved. Ons Jabeur is a young Tunisian with a bright future: she doesn't hit the ball with too much pace but she is dangerous off both wings. What could hurt her in this match is the consistency and experience of Zarina Diyas. The Kazakstan native is not a new face to the top 50 and she has a lot to admire about her game. While she may not be the biggest hitter, or the smartest player, she does have a great understanding of tennis and what it takes to win on the court. Using all areas of the court and moving the ball from side to side, she has managed to build up an impressive haul of ranking points with very solid results. These two are very similar players and while I would love to call this one for Africa, I am going to have to say that experience will win out tomorrow, as Diyas will do more on the important points, and be more confident in the tense moments.
Predictions: Diyas def Jabeur in two tight sets.

Popcorn match

Carla Suarez Navarro vs. Garbine Muguruza- This should undoubtedly be the best match of the day. These two are friends, country women, and doubles teammates. They play very different games and it makes for a very entertaining contest. Last week in Dubai, it was Suarez Navarro who started better but it was Muguruza who finished the stronger of the two: winning the tie in three tough sets. Muguruza is definitely a player that has been on my radar for several years and she is finally living up to her potential. She is hitting the ball extremely clean, blasting winners, and serving super solid. However, she is slightly lackluster between points on the best of days, and so this match is going to be tough for her. She made the semifinals in Dubai, and played several long matches. Suarez Navarro is not a player that is going to let up or give up many free points and because of this I feel that Muguruza may struggle with fatigue in this match, and Suarez Navarro will eat it up like an ant on a sugar cube.
Prediction: Suarez Navarro def Muguruza in three sets (1 tight, Last two relatively easy)

Other Predictions:

Petkovic def Flipkens (2 sets)
Cornet def Dulgheru (2 sets)
Svitolina def Gavrilova (2 sets)
Jankovic def Zheng (3 sets)
V. Williams def Zahlavova Strycova (2 sets)