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The Qatar Total Energy Open will be held in Doha, marking the start of the WTA 1000 season and setting the pace for next year on the women’s tour.
With 1,000 ranking points available and around €3.5 million in prize money at stake, the tournament brings a strong field to the Qatari capital, with most of the world’s top 20 players competing this week.
Swiatek returns to familiar territory in Doha
World No. 2 Iga Swiatek will return to the venue where she has enjoyed repeated success. The 24-year-old Polish star has already lifted the trophy three times in Doha and arrives as one of the favorites once again.
Swiatek says dealing with the conditions, especially the wind, will be key to the next deep run. “We know it’s very windy here, so we have to accept that we can make a few more mistakes,” Swiatek said.
“In past years, players who were frustrated with the wind lost more points because of it. It seems like the weather is a little milder this year, so we’ll see.”
Players adapting to Doha conditions
Italian world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini is also focused on adapting quickly to the conditions in Doha. “It’s important to adapt to the court and the ball here, because the ball is quite heavy and slow,” Paolini said.
“We need to play deep on the court and stay aggressive. I’ve been working on that in practice and I hope that translates to the game.”
Sabalenka absent, but expectations remain high
A notable absence is world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who continues to recover after losing in the Australian Open final.
Even without the world’s top-ranked player, the presence of the remaining top five, along with former champion Elena Rybakina, is raising expectations for a high standard of tennis as the tournament progresses.