Recap
Top seed, Simona Halep, capped off an incredible week in Dubai with a hard fought straight sets win over rising WTA star; Karolina Pliskova. Halep played inspired tennis this week and thoroughly deserved to win her biggest title to date. Dubai certainly had one of the most packed fields outside of the slams and Halep proved, just as much to herself as she did to the rest of the world, that she is capable winning big titles. As we move forward to Doha this week, Halep made a late withdrawal, but the field still boasts 5 of the top ten women and several more that are in the top 20.
Doha preview
Dubai featured so many upsets that I would wage a few dollars that this week will bring a little more normality back to the tour. Look for familiar faces in the latter stages this week. Venus will have a few things to prove after falling early to Safarova last week, Wozniacki will also be looking to better her semifinal finish, and Petra Kvitova will be hoping to snatch the title with some more convincing performances then she had in Dubai. This week is looking like another week of spectacular tennis in the Middle East so look out for some early pops and some late bangs in this tournament.
Match to watch
Lucie Safarova vs. Sam Stosur- Lucie Safarova is such a perennial talent in the women's game that I half expect her to win every tournament she enters. She strikes with such ferocity off both wings that it sometimes appears as if she is trying to burst the poor little yellow ball. Her results though just don't mimic her talent. She has a tendency to play one brilliant match and then deflate and play a poor one with errors flying around like gnats on a humid day. Sam Stosur will be hoping for just such a day from Safarova. Her game is a mixture of extreme extreme aggression and perplexing passive play. She has also had mixed success; winning a slam with an incredible performance but also losing to unranked opponents in low end tournaments. If Stosur can keep the ball deep and heavy, Safarova will find it difficult to maintain her extreme aggression and will capitulate in a mound of errors. However, if Safarova comes out hitting the balls like she did against a lack luster Venus Williams in Dubai, Stosur will struggle to keep up with the pace and will be stranded watching as winners race past her on both sides.
Prediction: Safarova def Stosur in straight sets.
Popcorn Match
Angelique Kerber vs. Victoria Azarenka- This is an unfortunate match in so many ways. Both of these players are so great to watch (if you have the television on mute for VIKA), they each have their own amazing talents. Vika has the most mental fortitude on tour, barring Maria Sharapova, she fights for every point on the court and can turn even the most desperate looking point back in her favor. Kerber on the other hand, has an uncanny ability to use every dimension of the court. She moves her opponents around, using short angles, before flattening out her forehand down the line. When she is confident, she is outstanding to watch, perhaps possessing one of the most accurate shots off her forehand wing. Unfortunately for Kerber, her year hasn't been exceptionally special. She fell last week to an inspired Flavia Pennetta, but for the rest of the year she has looked flat an unmotivated. Vika, on the rise back from injury, will have nothing but motivation in this match. the last two times these two have played has produced very special tennis indeed. Can this match live upto the tennis they have produced in the past? Somehow I doubt that this will be as good a match as the past two, but look for tension, desperation, and some stunning shot making.
Prediction: Azarenka def Kerber in three sets.
Other Predictions
Venus Williams def Casey Dellacqua (2 sets)
Svetlana Kuznetsova def Flavia Pennetta (3 sets)
Zahlavova Strycova def Sabine Lisicki (2 Sets)
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