Qatar Open 2022: Andy Murray vs Taro Daniel preview, head-to-head & prediction

Match details

Fixture: (WC) Andy Murray vs Taro Daniel

Date: 15 February 2022.

Tournament: Qatar Open 2022

Round: First round (Round of 32)

Venue: Doha, Qatar

Category: ATP 250

Surface: Outdoor Hardcourt

Prize money: $1,176,595

Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | Canada - TSN | India - Tennis TV.

Andy Murray vs Taro Daniel preview

Former World No. 1 Andy Murray will square off against Taro Daniel in the first round of the 2022 Qatar Open on Tuesday.

Murray's season so far has been quite up-and-down. After losing his first match of the year at the Melbourne Summer Set, he made it to the final of the Sydney Tennis Classic the following week. Based on his runner-up finish in Sydney, the Brit was expected to do well at the Australian Open.

Murray scored a hard fought five-set win over Nikoloz Basilashvili in the first round, but lost in straight sets to Taro Daniel in the next round. At the Rotterdam Open, he lost to eventual winner Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round. Nevertheless, he's back into the top 100 of the ATP rankings for the first time since 2018.

The three-time Grand Slam champion has displayed flashes of brilliance, but hasn't been as consistent as he would have liked this season. After a couple of early-round losses, Murray will be eager to turn the tide in Doha, where he's a former champion.

Taro Daniel began his 2022 season by reaching the second round of the Adelaide International, losing to Tommy Paul. At the Australian Open, he reached the third round of a Gram Slam for the first time, defeating Murray along the way.

Daniel will be competing in his first tournament since the Melbourne Major and will aim to replicate the success he had Down Under in Doha.

Andy Murray vs Taro Daniel head-to-head

The two have faced off twice before, with the head-to-head tied at 1-1. Daniel won their most recent encounter at this year's Australian Open in straight sets.

Andy Murray vs Taro Daniel prediction

Just a few weeks after their encounter at the Australian Open, the two are set to meet once again. Despite Daniel's win over Murray at the season's first Grand Slam, the former World No. 1 will have the edge going into this contest.

Overall, the Brit's season has been better compared to his opponent. Murray has scored wins over quality players like Reilly Opelka and Alexander Bublik along with reaching a final. The former World No. 1 has made significant progress over the past year and should be able to continue his upward trajectory.

Daniel put up an inspiring performance in Melbourne to knock out the three-time Grand Slam champion, but Murray will be eager to put things right and regain the lead in their rivalry.

Prediction: Andy Murray to win in straight sets.

About the author

Rohit is a journalist at Sportskeeda who specializes in covering tennis. Having been with the company for three years, he has proven himself as a formidable force in the field. With a Master's degree in law, Rohit brings his analytical and research skills to the forefront as a journalist. He stays on top of the game by using social media platforms and never misses a match for on-court insights. He values giving credit where it's due, keeping his reporting fair and accurate.

At the outset of his career, Rohit found his niche in writing previews and SEO pieces and it's this expertise that continues to define his role at Sportskeeda. He is particularly proud of one article that garnered an impressive 750k views and surpassed his "wildest dreams." Rohit is not particularly fond of (GOAT) debates and it is one of the reasons why he left the legal world behind. He prefers to view players in "tiers," where they're all esteemed to an extent. However, if pressed to name favorites, he would choose Serena and Venus Williams. The Williams sisters' journey from humble beginnings to the pinnacle of tennis has been his greatest source of inspiration.

When he isn't busy making spot-on predictions about match outcomes, Rohit likes reading, particularly fantasy, sci-fi, and comics. As an X-Men fanatic, he's also passionate about board games and enjoys watching movies in his spare time. And don't be surprised if you catch him silently wishing to the tennis gods for the removal of ad scoring from doubles.

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Edited by Nihal Taraporvala