Dayana Yastremska vs Sofia Kenin
25th February 1400hrs
Tennis – Qatar – WTA
Pick Kenin To Win
Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 4/6 odds taken 21:25 GMT, Monday 24th February
This is a bit of a pressure match for 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin. That’s because she lost her first match in her only singles tournament played since her big Grand Slam success. She may not have things all her own away against Yastremska in Doha.
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Can Kenin handle the pressure?
The season just gets a little tough for Sofia Kenin now. Following her incredible Australian Open success, the American youngster has been brought back down to earth quickly since. Kenin’s first singles event since Melbourne Park came at the recent Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Kenin bowed out in the first round against Elena Rybankina in three sets, having won the first. There perhaps are extenuating circumstances there, because Rybakina has been in phenomenal form in 2020 and so that was never going to be an easy fixture to return to action in for Kenin, with a brighter spotlight on her.
Kenin has won 80% of her service games in 2020, which is more than solid and she is up at 67.5% of first serves won. As we saw in her Grand Slam success, she defends with everything that she has.
Kenin has won 40% of return points played this season, converting a total of 46% of break points that she has created for herself. She is not the heaviest of servers on the WTA, but has guile and variety.
Yastremska no pushover
Dayana Yastremska has had the advantage of having had a match under her belt in Doha. She met Kirsten Flipkins in the opening round and sailed past the challenge of the Belgian. Like Kenin, Yastremska lost in the first round of Dubai in her previous tournament.
The difference between the two was that the Ukrainian only made the second round of the Australian Open. But before heading to Melbourne Park, Dayana Yastremska had put in a superb effort to reach the final of the Adelaide International where she was beaten by world number one Ashleigh Barty.
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A key weapon for Yastremska is her first serve, having won 70% of first serves this season (38 aces). The Ukrainian has won 74% of her service games. Notably, she has coverted 51% of break points as well.
In the head to head with Kenin, things are even at one win each. Yastremska won the first meeting between them which was at Wimbledon last year. But then Kenin heavily turned the tables with a straight-sets win in Toronto.
Dayana Yastremska vs Sofia Kenin Betting Advice
These are two good young battlers going toe-to-toe early in the Doha draw. It could be good and because Yastremska should be a threat on her serve, then it is worth looking towards the match going to three sets.
Key Facts – Dayana Yastremska vs Sofia Kenin Betting Tip
- Dayana Yastremska is W1 L1 against Kenin
- Dayana Yastremska beat Kirsten Flipkins in the first round
- Sofia Kenin is the reigning Australian Open champion
As for picking out the winner, we would side with Kenin. She took the Urkaninan apart in their one previous hard court meeting and will know here that she needs to get something going. Kenin 2-1 in set betting looks like a good proposition.
The best betting odds for Dayana Yastremska vs Sofia Kenin
Dayana Yastremska to win: 11/10 at Bet365
Sofia Kenin: 14/6 at Bet365
