Seven of the Top 10 players in the PIF WTA Rankings are in Doha this week for the Qatar TotalEnergies Open.
The tournament marks the season’s first 1000-level event on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz. With World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka not in the field, three-time champion Iga Swiatek is the top seed, followed by Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina, defending champion Amanda Anisimova, Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva.
Below is a breakdown of each quarter in the draw, including notable first-round matches and potential quarterfinal showdowns. And to view the full draw, click here.
First Quarter
Swiatek is the top seed in a section that includes Jasmine Paolini, Linda Noskova and Australian Open doubles champion Elise Mertens. Mertens is actually a former champion in Doha, winning this tournament in 2019. Also in this quarter is Sorana Cirstea — likely playing her final Qatar Open — Turkish upstart Zeynep Sonmez, Janice Tjen, Maya Joint and Maria Sakkari.
First-round match to watch
Linda Noskova [9] vs. Maya Joint: There are plenty of great options to choose from here, including Sonmez vs. Sakkari and Tjen vs. Cirstea. But I’m most intrigued by Noskova, now up to No. 12 in the world and still just 21, taking on the 19-year-old Australian in a match between potential future superstars for years to come. This will be their first meeting.
Potential quarterfinal showdown
Iga Swiatek [1] vs. Jasmine Paolini [6]: Swiatek won their first six matches, including the Cincinnati final last year, but Paolini turned the tables at the WTA Finals last year with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 win that took everyone by surprise. If given another chance against the six-time Grand Slam champion, will she find more Middle East magic?
Second Quarter
Anisimova, who won the biggest title of her career here last year (up to that point), is the top seed in a section that also includes Australian Open semifinalist Elina Svitolina, fresh into the Top 10. American Emma Navarro and Karolina Muchova are also in this quarter, as are Filipina sensation Alexandra Eala and 2017 champion Karolina Pliskova.
First-round match to watch
Emma Navarro [12] vs. Tatjana Maria: It’s been a slow start to the year for Navarro, who went just 2-3 during the Australian swing and lost her opener in Abu Dhabi. She’s fallen to No. 17 in the PIF WTA Rankings, and is very much in need of a deep run in Doha to get some momentum back. And her opponent, 38-year-old Maria, is always a joy to watch. They’ve only played once, a 6-3, 6-2 win for Maria in Rome, Georgia way back in 2022.
Potential quarterfinal showdown
Amanda Anisimova [3] vs. Elina Svitolina [7]: This would be a fascinating matchup between the defending champ and one of the hottest players on tour right now, having a mini resurgence. Anisimova had a decent Australian swing, reaching the quarterfinals in Melbourne, but will she once again kickstart her season in Doha? And can Svitolina, 31, continue her hot hand? Svitolina has taken four of their five matches, including a 6-4, 6-1 win in Montreal last year. But before that they hadn’t played since 2021.
Third Quarter
Gauff is the top seed in this quarter, which also includes Ekaterina Alexandrova, Clara Tauson and Liudmila Samsonova. Other notable names in this section, which appears to be wide open, are last year’s runner-up Jelena Ostapenko and Emma Raducanu. Paula Badosa was initially in this section, but she withdrew from the tournament with a right hip injury.
First-round match to watch
Emma Raducanu vs. Camila Osorio [Q]: Will Raducanu build on her big week in Cluj-Napoca, and has she finally turned a corner? And will she have anything left in the tank after a busy week? The former US Open champion comes into this tournament with plenty of momentum, as does Osorio, who came through qualifying. This will actually be their second meeting in as many months. Raducanu beat the World No. 80 6-3, 7-6 (2) in Hobart during the Australian swing.
Potential quarterfinal showdown
Coco Gauff [4] vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova [8]: Gauff could certainly use a deep run after an earlier-than-expected exit in Melbourne, and she has a huge opportunity to earn points after losing in the first round in Doha last year. As for Alexandrova, she’s rebounded in Abu Dhabi after a less-than-stellar Australian swing. Gauff has taken four of their five matches, including a 6-0, 7-5 victory in the fourth round of the French Open last year.
Fourth Quarter
Rybakina, fresh off her second Grand Slam title and winner of 20 of her last 21 matches, tops this section. Her biggest threat is Andreeva, who won the title in Adelaide last month. This section also includes Victoria Mboko, Diana Shnaider and the returning Zheng Qinwen.
First-round match to watch
Zheng Qinwen vs. Sofia Kenin: There’s plenty of anticipation for the former World No. 4’s season debut, after pulling out of the Australian Open with continued injury issues. The 23-year-old has only played two matches since Wimbledon, one of which she retired from in the third set. Zheng and Kenin have played once previously, a straight-sets win for Zheng in Tokyo in 2024.
Potential quarterfinal showdown
Elena Rybakina [2] vs. Mirra Andreeva [5]: Will Rybakina bring her dominance to Doha? Assuming both take care of business in their first two matches, the World No. 3 will have to get through Andreeva, who gave her fits last year. Andreeva beat Rybakina in three sets in the Dubai semifinals, en route to her breakthrough title, and followed that up with a decisive 6-1, 6-2 win in Indian Wells a few weeks later. That was during Andreeva’s explosive early-season run, though, and Rybakina is now the one who looks unbeatable.
