Eight of the world’s top 10 women are in Doha this week competing in the Qatar TotalEnergies Open. Top seed Aryna Sabalenka, No. 2 Barbora Krejcikova, No. 3 Paula Badosa and No. 4 Anett Kontaveit represented the top four seeds alongside No. 5 Garbine Muguruza, No. 6 Maria Sakkari, No. 7 Iga Swiatek and No. 8 Ons Jabeur.
After a riveting first few rounds, the tournament enters the Round of 16 on Wednesday. Who is left standing and how does the field stack up in terms of the tennis betting online markets at BetUS sportsbook.
Find out as we preview the action ahead of the R16 in this column. We will take a look at the draw and how it stacks up against the tennis odds currently trading in sports betting markets. Who are the best favorites to bet on, and are there any longshots worth a tickle on your tennis pick?
Qatar TotalEnergies Open Draw
First Quarter: Sabalenka and Swiatek
Sabalenka won the Qatar Open in 2020, but she faces stiff competition to win a second title in Doha. Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann stands in her way in the R16 and then a potential matchup against Swiatek or Daria Kasatkina. Should Swiatek emerge from the R16 to set up a quarterfinal matchup against Sabalenka, it’s more likely than not that the Polish star will be the favorite.
Indeed, Sabalenka didn’t enter the tournament as the top bet. Sabalenka was priced at +950 (fourth overall) while Swiatek was priced at +700 (second overall).
Sabalenka opened her campaign on Tuesday against Alize Cornet in the R32 after receiving a bye. She advanced into the R16 with a straight-set win, 6-2, 6-2. Swiatek opened her bid with a three-set win over Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic.
Sabalenka’s form this season has been up and down, although she comes into the tournament having won four of her last six matches. She extended that form with the victory over Cornet. She reached the R16 of the Australian Open (l. to Kanepi) and the R16 of Dubai (l. to Kvitova).
Swiatek was a semifinalist at the Australian Open, losing to Danielle Collins 6-4, 6-1. Last week in Dubai, Swiatek dropped out of the tournament in the R16, losing to Jelena Ostapenko 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4).
Kasatkina and Teichmann are a pair of streaky players that could cause some disruption and shake up the first quarter of the draw. Inasmuch as Sabalenka and Swiatek are projected to emerge from this quarter, Kasatkina or Teichmann could flip the script. It wouldn’t be a shocker.
Second Quarter: Badosa and Sakkari
The second quarter was stacked with in-form players and flanked by top seeds Badosa and Sakkari. Both Badosa and Sakkari advanced into the R16 on Tuesday, underscoring their favorable tennis odds to challenge for the Doha title.
Badosa beat Clara Tauson 6-1, 6-2 to book her place opposite Coco Gauff in the R16. The American teenager arrives in the last 16 on the back of a hard-fought, 6-2, 7-6 (3) win over Carolina Garcia, who was coming off an upset over Simona Halep in the first round.
Jessica Pegula, who is coming off a semifinal appearance at the Australian Open, booked her place in the R16 with a straightforward 6-3, 6-3 win over Kaja Juvan. She will take on Sakkari in the R16 after the Greek star took care of Ann Li in her opener, 6-3, 6-3.
Awaiting the winner of this one 👀@paulabadosa | #QatarTennis pic.twitter.com/F1ql7QqCVp
— wta (@WTA) February 20, 2022
Badosa and Sakkari are the top seeds in this section, and if things go to plan, the pair will collide in the quarterfinals. Gauff and Pegula, however, represented serious obstacles for the pair, respectively. Indeed, Pegula took out Sakkari during her Cinderella run into the semis.
Third Quarter: Kontaveit and Jabeur
The third quarter was the most wide-open section of the draw, flanked by Estonia’s Kontaveit and Tunisia’s Jabeur. Although both Kontaveit and Jabeur are through to the R16, this section is still up for grabs. Elise Mertens of Belgium lurks in the mix along with dangerous floater Tereza Martincova of the Czech Republic.
Jabeur needed three sets to take care of Anastasia Sasnovich, storming from a set down to win 1-6, 7-5, 6-3. Next up for Jabeur is Martincova, who took out Arantxa Rus 6-2, 6-4.
Kontaveit advanced into the R16 following a routine 6-2, 6-3 win over Ana Konjuh, but she faces a well-rested Mertens, who advanced after Petra Kvitova retired in the second set.
A nice straightforward R1 win today of a less experienced opponent for Sori. She continues playing well this year and is rewarded with the victory and a R2 matchup against Garbine Muguruza. Sorana Cirstea defeated Mayar Sharif 6-2, 6-1. pic.twitter.com/2vKXlsSJLe
— Romanian Tennis (@WTARomania) February 20, 2022
Fourth Quarter: Krejcikova and Muguruza
The fourth quarter was loaded with big hitters, former grand slam champions and dangerous floaters at the start. Krejcikova and Muguruza headlined this section and as the R16 approaches, the pair are still alive in the competition and on a collision course for a quarterfinal showdown.
Muguruza is through to the R16 after making short work of Romania’s Sorana Cirstea. Muguruza will take on a well-rested Madison Brengle, who got a walkover after Viktoria Azarenka withdrew due to injury.
Dubai champion Ostapenko took out American rising star Amanda Anisimova in three sets. The Estonian was made to work hard for the win by Anisimova as the pair split the first two sets before Ostapenko took the third 6-4.
Krejcikova opened her tournament against Poland’s Magda Linette. The Czech was unfazed by the Pole’s game and won comfortably 6-1, 6-3. Ostapenko and Krejcikova set up an intriguing R16 showdown on Wednesday, a clash of styles. Ostapenko is a big-hitter while Krejcikova is a wily chess player with an arsenal of shots. On a good day, Osapenko can blow Krejcikova off the court. Similarly, Krejcikova can outwit the Estonian.
Krejcikova and Muguruza are expected to advance into the quarterfinals, but the possibility for the upset in this section is legitimate. It wouldn’t be surprising if Ostapenko or Brengle were to emerge into the last eight. Ostapenko entered the tournament as the +1800 outsider to win the title. After winning Dubai last week, she may well be the value play to extend her positive run of form in Doha.
