Elena Rybakina vs Emma Navarro: 2024 Qatar Open Doha - Preview & Prediction
WTA
Elena Rybakina is playing really solid tennis right now, but so is Emma Navarro, so, who will win this matchup at the 2024 Qatar Open in Doha?
Rybakina is on a five-match winning streak dating back to the Abu Dhabi Open last week. She won that event, and she has two trophies to her name in 2024 already. The Kazakhstani player played 14 matches, 12 of which were victories.
She's facing a rising star in Navarro, whose family famously owns the Charleston Open tennis event. She grew up around tennis courts and has been playing really well since last year, so much so that she's 23 in the world right now.
She's far from an easy opponent, even though her best surface is the clay, so what might happen here? Let's find out below.
Head-to-head:
They played only once so far, and it was back in 2019 when Navarro was only 18 years old. It was an easy win for the Kazakhstani player, 6-1, 6-1, but things are very different right now. Navarro is a much better player compared to then and has a lot more experience.
All of that will be useful for her in the matchup against probably the most in-form player in the world right now. Can she fight for the win? Well, it will largely depend on how she handles Rybakina's serve. If she can return it to a decent level, then she might do that.
| Elena Rybakina | Emma Navarro | |
| 1 | H2H | 0 |
| 4 | Rank | 23 |
| 24 | Age | 22 |
| 11-2 | 2024 W/L | 10-2 |
| 300-134 | Career W/L | 160-91 |
Prediction:
It will also depend on whether she can exert any kind of pressure on her. The best way to beat Rybakina is to move her around, but doing so while withstanding her pressure is really tricky.
Navarro can do it, thanks to her clay background, but I wouldn't bet on it. I think Rybakina is simply the player to beat right now.
Prediction: Elena Rybakina to win in three sets.
