Round 2. Bertens def Muchova

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[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-microphone”] Match Recap from Announcer Andy Taylor, Voice of the Qatar Total Open

Kiki Bertens advances to the Round of 16

A 5-time Finalist last season, Kiki Bertens earned 2-titles in 2019 and ended the season ranked inside the top-10 for the second year in-a-row. As an alternate at the WTA Finals, she upset World #1 Ashleigh Barty.

Two weeks ago, she captured her 10th Singles title in St. Petersburg, defeating the hottest player on Tour Elena Rybakina in the championship match. And when the new rankings were released overnight, she jumped from World #8 to World #6.

After the victory in Russia, Kiki withdrew from Dubai – choosing instead to recover for the season’s first Premier-5 event here in Doha. Wise decision. Bertens was rested and in top-form against one the the WTA’s trickiest and deceivingly powerful Czech opponents.

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Head to Head: First meeting between these two players

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[7] Kiki Bertens -06- (NED) | Round-2 Announcer Introduction

Just 8 days ago, she captured her 10th WTA Singles title in St. Petersburg – And this morning, learned that she’s jumped from World #8 to World #6. Last season, she won the biggest title of her career in Madrid, winning 6-straight matches without dropping a set. In fact, she won 2-titles in 2019, reached 5-Finals, cracked the WTA’s top-5 for the first time – and at the year-end WTA Finals Shenzhen, upset World #1 Ashleigh Barty. A Quarterfinalist here in Doha last year, competing in her 3rd Qatar Total Open – Form the Netherlands, please welcome Kiki Bertens.

• R2 — W | Karolina Muchova -27- (CZE) | Score: 6-2, 6-4
• R1 — BYE

Announcer Corner | Doha: Kiki Bertens

This afternoon’s victory was Kiki’s third here in Doha, her first under the Premier-5 flag. She made her Qatar Total Open debut during a rain-soaked 2017, falling in the opening round to eventual finalist Caroline Wozniacki. After skipping 2018, she returned last year to earn her first two Doha victories over Camila Giorgi and 2016 Champion Carla Suarez Navarro. In the Quarterfinals, she fell to eventual champion Elise Mertens.

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Karolina Muchova -27- (CZE) | Round-2 Announcer Introduction

Yesterday on Court-2, she defeated Magda Linette in just over an hour to reach tonight’s 2nd-Round match. Last year here in Doha — as a Qualifier ranked outide the top-130 — she won her first two WTA Premier-level matches, reaching the Quarterfinals in her Qatar Total Open debut. She went on to win her maiden WTA title, was a 2-time Finalist – and at Wimbledon, earned her first top-5 victory in a marathon, deciding-set win over World #4 Karolina Pliskova. By season’s end, she jumped over 100-spots in the rankings – ending the year as the World #21. Back in Doha, where last year’s breakthrough began – From the Czech Republic, please welcome Karolina Muchova.

• R2 — L | [7] Kiki Bertens -06- (NED) | Score: 2-6, 2-4
• R1 — W | Magda Linette -33- (POL) | Score: 6-3, 6-1 | RECAP

Announcer Corner | Doha: Karolina Muchova

After scoring her first two Premier main-draw victories at the 2019 Qatar Total Open – this year, Karolina makes her Premier-5 debut in Doha. While she played two Premier Mandatory events last year (a Round-2 run at the Miami Open and a 1st-Round loss to Madison Keys in Beijing), she didn’t enter any of 2019’s Premier-5’s (Dubai, Rome, Rogers Cup, Cincinnati, or Wuhan). Another Qatar Total Open, another first.