Naomi Osaka vs Caroline Garcia Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Qatar Open

Prediction published on 10/02/2024, 01:55  by Nella Wagah in WTA Qatar Open Predictions

Naomi Osaka and 15th seed Caroline Garcia will meet yet again in 2024 when they square off at the Qatar Open. The winner of this first-rounder will then proceed to battle either Petra Martic or Arantxa Rus. Naomi Osaka is having a difficult return to the tour after being out for a season and a half. Injuries and the birth of her first child saw the former world number one miss the entire 2023 season. She began her campaign in Brisbane and won her first round match but since then she has been defeated three times. One of those defeats was against Garcia in the first round in Melbourne. Osaka, who last played in Doha in 2018, is coming off a first-round exit in Abu Dhabi. She is currently ranked outside the WTA 700. Osaka defeated Garcia the first time they were paired up against one another. This was in her title-winning run at the Australian Open in 2021.

Caroline Garcia will have her win over Osaka fresh in mind as it took place just three weeks ago. The Frenchwoman has had a shaky start to the year but has fared better than Osaka. She has won five of the nine matches she has contested. The 30-year-old, who has lost her last two matches, also suffered a first-round exit in Abu Dhabi. She will be hopeful of avoiding an early exit in her return to Doha after a season away. Garcia has played in this WTA 1000 event eight times before and has a quarterfinal finish in 2018 as her best-ever result. She is currently down one place to 21st in the live ranking.