Sports
Zheng Qinwen Faces Off Against Ons Jabeur at Qatar Open
DOHA, Qatar — World No. 8 Zheng Qinwen will compete against former World No. 2 Ons Jabeur in the second round of the Qatar Open on Tuesday, February 11. This match at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex marks the first encounter between the two players this season.
Zheng, who suffered an upset loss to Laura Siegemund during the second round of the 2024 Australian Open, has played only two matches this year due to fitness issues following her WTA Finals appearance in November. Despite these challenges, she is eager to return to action. ‘I’ve been focusing on my recovery, and I feel refreshed and ready to compete,’ Zheng said.
On the other hand, Jabeur, aged 30, comes into this match after an impressive 6-2, 6-0 victory over McCartney Kessler in the first round of the Qatar Open. With a 9-4 win-loss record this year, she recently reached the quarterfinals in Abu Dhabi, where she battled fiercely against the tournament’s top seed.
Jabeur also advanced to the quarterfinals at the Adelaide International and faced a challenging third-round loss at the Australian Open. ‘I have been feeling great on the court, and I’m excited to build on my last performance,’ Jabeur commented. ‘Zheng is a tough opponent, but I am prepared.’
Historically, Zheng holds a 2-0 lead over Jabeur in their head-to-head matchups. Their last meeting was at the 2023 US Open, where Zheng won in straight sets. Jabeur’s earlier defeat occurred at the 2022 Canadian Open when she retired after losing the first set.
In terms of career statistics, Jabeur has a 1-2 record at the Qatar Open, reflecting the challenges she has faced in the past. She aims to improve her ranking and gain valuable points during this tournament, which boasts a total prize purse of $3,654,963.
Zheng, meanwhile, is looking to capitalize on her favorable history against Jabeur. Betting lines show Zheng favored at -190 to win, while Jabeur stands as the underdog at +145. This implies a 65.5% chance for Zheng and a 40.8% chance for Jabeur according to current odds.
The match is set to be broadcasted live on Tennis Channel in the United States and Sky Sports in the United Kingdom. With high stakes and heightened rivalries, this match promises to be a thrilling display of tennis.
