The Qatar Open, which is currently underway at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, has fans giddy with excitement. Now that the opening-round fixtures have been concluded, the tennis community will get to witness some blockbuster outdoor hard-court encounters in the next rounds featuring some top guns on the women’s tour.

In her second match at the WTA 1000 event in Doha, the 4-time singles Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka will square off against her Croatian colleague Petra Martić. With both of the WTA players competing for a spot in the round of 16, it will be intriguing to see who comes out on top in this thrilling clash.

Naomi Osaka vs. Petra Martić: Qatar Open second-round match preview

After her season-long absence, Naomi Osaka is back to her on-court duties in this new tennis season. However, the Japanese tennis player has failed to start the season on a high note as she faced back-to-back first-round defeats at both the Australian Open and the Abu Dhabi Open. Now, the 4-time singles Grand Slam champion will look to make amends at the Qatar Open, where she recently outclassed her 14th-seeded French opponent Caroline Garcia in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4.

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Petra Martić, on the other hand, is also coming after some lackluster campaigns at both the Australian Open and the Linz Open, where she was knocked out after the first rounds. Now entering the WTA 1000 event in Doha as an unseeded participant, the Croatian tennis player recently defeated Arantxa Rus, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, in her opener.

Osaka vs. Martić: Head-to-Head

The second-round match between Osaka and Martić at the Qatar Open will also mark their second meeting on the WTA circuit. In their previous meeting at the Bank of the West Classic, it was the Japanese tennis star who overcame her Croatian colleague and currently has a 1-0 lead in their H2H record.

Prediction: Osaka to prevail in the second-round match of the Doha Open

Naomi Osaka is a 4-time Grand Slam champion who has also reached the world No. 1 ranking in singles during her competitive journey on the WTA circuit. The Japanese tennis player’s vast experience and past good records on the hard courts will make her the favorite to win her second-round match against Petra Martić.

Who do you think will prevail in this exciting Qatar Open clash between Osaka and Martić? Let us know in the comments section.

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