Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Doha match.
Elena Rybakina begins her campaign in Doha, where she has historically performed well. However, the Kazakhstani player has struggled with fitness and consistency, which has seen her drop out of the WTA top five. Meanwhile, American Peyton Stearns has proven she can compete against top-ranked opponents, even if she doesn’t always secure victories.
Elena Rybakina
Rybakina possesses one of the most powerful serves on the WTA Tour. In 2023, she hit 455 aces, followed by 358 in 2024. So far this season, she has recorded 50 aces in 11 matches. However, inconsistency in rallies and signs of physical fatigue have led to four of her last matches extending to three sets. Notably, eight of her last nine matches against American players have gone over 20 games.
Peyton Stearns
The American has won 57% of her hard-court matches this season (4-3) and has consistently won at least nine games in her last 17 matches on this surface. Stearns competes well against top-50 players, often pushing them to the limit. Recent close defeats to Daria Kasatkina (6:7, 6:4, 5:7), Paula Badosa (7:6, 3:6, 5:7), and Emma Navarro (7:6, 6:7, 5:7) highlight her ability to stay competitive.
Elena Rybakina vs Peyton Stearns Prediction
Rybakina is the clear favourite, but her inconsistency and Stearns' fighting spirit suggest this match won’t be straightforward. The American has repeatedly taken top players deep into matches, and in her last six outings, the over 20.5 games bet has consistently won. To be cautious, we’ll go with over 19.5 games.
