DOHA, Qatar — The entry list for the 2026 Qatar TotalEnergies Open has shifted significantly ahead of opening day, with a growing list of withdrawals reshaping the WTA 1000 field in Doha.
Several high-profile players have pulled out in the days leading up to the tournament, continuing a familiar early-season trend following the physical demands of the Australian Open and the tight scheduling of the Middle East swing.
This article is part of our ongoing Middle East Swing coverage.
Big Names Withdraw from Doha
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka headlines the withdrawal list after opting to adjust her schedule following a deep run to the finals in Melbourne.
Her absence removes the top-ranked player from the draw and alters the seeding structure at the top of the tournament.
Sabalenka is joined by several other notable names who were originally entered in Doha:
- Jessica Pegula, who elected to rest after the Australian Open
- Naomi Osaka, sidelined with an abdominal injury
- Madison Keys, who withdrew prior to the draw
- Marta Kostyuk, dealing with an ankle ligament issue
- Iva Jovic, who pulled out before main draw play
- Veronika Kudermetova
- Eva Lys
- Lois Boisson (still hasn’t played yet this season)
Replacements Added to the Main Draw
With multiple spots opening up, several WTA Tour players have moved directly into the main draw as replacements:
- Emiliana Arango
- Daria Kasatkina
- Wang Xinyu
- Laura Siegemund
- Marie Bouzkova
- Katerina Siniakova
- Alexandra Eala
- Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Several of those replacements now find themselves with a clear path to additional ranking points in one of the season’s most important hard-court events.
What It Means Going Forward
Despite the withdrawals, Doha still features a strong field led by Iga Swiatek, who now steps into the role of top seed.
With fast courts, short rallies, and limited recovery time between matches, the tournament has a long history of rewarding players who arrive healthy and match-ready rather than those coming off heavy workloads.
As the Middle East swing continues, Doha may once again serve as a reminder that early-season scheduling decisions can be just as important as form.
Crush & Rush News will continue tracking draw changes, replacements, and matchday implications throughout the week.
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Phil Naessens is a tennis betting analyst and former tennis coach with decades of experience in player development and match analysis. He is the founder of Crush Rush News and host of the Crush & Rush Tennis Podcast, focusing on price-first betting strategy, market efficiency, and transparency in sports wagering.
