Tension and anticipation are in the air as the Qatar Open prepares to kick off from February 9 to 15 at the prestigious Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha. This event marks the beginning of the WTA 1000 tournament season, and the top names in women’s tennis are already tuning their rackets for the competition. With an impressive total prize money at stake, the tournament promises to be a spectacle that will capture the attention of sports fans worldwide.
Defending champion Amanda Anisimova, currently ranked number 4 in the world, returns to Doha after an extraordinary 2025 season, where she won two WTA 1000 titles and reached two Grand Slam finals. Anisimova proved unbeatable in the previous edition, defeating Jelena Ostapenko in the final. This year, she seeks to defend her title in a star-studded field.
Among the major highlights is the presence of Elena Rybakina, the recent champion of the Australian Open, who arrives in Doha with an impressive streak of 19 wins in 20 matches. Rybakina, currently ranked number 3 in the world, faced Aryna Sabalenka in the final in Melbourne, who is the tournament’s number 1 seed and the 2020 Doha champion. Sabalenka aims to improve her performance compared to last year, where she was eliminated in the first round.
The tournament will feature an impressive lineup, with 13 players from the top 15 and 16 from the top 20 in attendance. Iga Swiatek, a favorite and three-time champion, and Coco Gauff, ranked number 4 in the world, are set to be central figures, with Gauff looking to reclaim the title of number 1 American, facing pressure from Anisimova.
Unfortunately, some notable figures will not be in action. World number 6 Jessica Pegula has opted out and will head straight to Dubai, while four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka will not compete after an abdominal injury forced her to withdraw from the Australian Open. Other significant absentees include Madison Keys, Iva Jovic, and Marta Kostyuk.
On the other hand, young talents like Mirra Andreeva and Victoria Mboko promise to surprise. Mboko will make her debut at the Qatar Open, while Andreeva looks to improve her performance after a second-round exit last year. Additionally, the competition will serve as a comeback for players who have been sidelined due to injuries, such as Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen, Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, and Roland Garros semifinalist Lois Boisson.
Ranking points and prize money are at stake, and the players will be motivated to give their best:
– First round: 10 points, $18,300
– Second round: 65 points, $26,000
– Third round: 120 points, $49,250
– Quarter-finals: 215 points, $98,500
– Semi-finals: 390 points, $197,000
– Finalist: 650 points, $385,000
– Champion: 1000 points, $665,000
As the Qatar Open approaches, all eyes are on how the players will perform in their quest for glory and generous cash prizes. What is clear is that this tournament is not only a platform for the stars of today but also a testing ground for the future stars of tennis. The battle for each point promises to be intense, and fans will not want to miss a single minute of the electrifying action set to take place in Doha.
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