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Match Details
Fixture: (1) Iga Swiatek vs (7) Belinda Bencic
Date: February 16, 2023
Tournament: Qatar TotalEnergies Open
Round: Quarterfinals
Venue: Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, Doha
Category: WTA 500
Surface: Outdoor Hardcourt
Prize money: $780,637
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Iga Swiatek vs Belinda Bencic preview
Reigning champion Iga Swiatek will face seventh seed Belinda Bencic in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open on Thursday.
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Swiatek has won seven out of nine matches so far this season. She started 2023 by helping Poland reach the semifinals of the United Cup. The Pole then reached the fourth round of the Australian Open before losing to eventual runner-up Elena Rybakina.
Swiatek then competed at the Qatar Open as the top seed and booked her place in the quarterfinals with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Danielle Collins.
Belinda Bencic has had a blistering start to the 2023 season, winning 14 out of 16 matches so far, with two titles to her name. The Swiss' first tournament victory came at the Adelaide International 2 where she beat Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 6-2 in the final.
Her second title came at the Abu Dhabi Open, where she beat Liudmila Samsonova 1-6, 7-6(8), 6-4 in the final after saving three championship points.
Bencic then entered the Qatar Open as the seventh seed and started the tournament with a crushing 6-0, 6-1 win over Viktoriya Tomova. She faced Victoria Azarenka in the second round and beat her 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 to seal her place in the quarterfinals.
Iga Swiatek vs Belinda Bencic head-to-head
Swiatek leads 2-1 in the head-to-head against Bencic. The two most recently locked horns at the United Cup, with Swiatek winning 6-3, 7-6(3).
Iga Swiatek vs Belinda Bencic odds
All odds are sourced from BETMGM.
Iga Swiatek vs Belinda Bencic prediction
Swiatek will enter the match as the favorite to win but Bencic is more than capable of making life difficult for her on Thursday, given her current form.
There were a few question marks about the Pole's killer instinct following her fourth-round exit at the Australian Open. However, she produced a sensational performance in her second-round match against Danielle Collins to show why she is such a formidable competitor.
Swiatek will look to attack from the start of the match and put pressure on Bencic. The Pole constructs her points well without showing too much aggression. However, she will have to be as lethal as she can in order to win.
Bencic is enjoying a purple patch at present and will be in good spirits ahead of her match against Swiatek. The Swiss has a strong first serve that can fetch her a few free points. However, her second serve is a little wobbly, as evident from her six double-faults in her last match.
Bencic hits her shots with a lot of power and can always mix things up with her astute drop shots.
While the Swiss has been in terrific form, Swiatek should be able to edge her out and reach the semifinals of the Qatar Open.
Pick: Swiatek to win in three sets.
