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The Qatar TotalEnergies Open is underway in Doha, marking the start of the WTA 1000 season and setting the pace for the year ahead in the women’s tour.
With 1,000 ranking points available and nearly €3.5 million in prize money up for grabs, the tournament has attracted a strong field to the Qatari capital, with most of the world’s top 20 players in action this week.
Swiatek returns to familiar ground in Doha
World number two Iga Swiatek returns to a venue where she has enjoyed repeated success. The 24-year-old Polish star has already lifted the trophy in Doha three times and arrives as one of the leading contenders once again.
Swiatek says handling the conditions, particularly the wind, will be key to another deep run. “Being aware that it’s super windy here, you need to accept that you’re going to make a little bit more mistakes,” Swiatek said.
“In past years, players who got more frustrated with the wind lost more points because of it. The weather feels a bit calmer this year, so we’ll see how it goes.”
Players adjust to conditions in Doha
Italian world number eight Jasmine Paolini is also focused on adapting quickly to the conditions in Doha. “Here it’s important to adapt to the court and to the ball because they’re pretty heavy and slow,” Paolini said.
“You need to play deep in the court and stay aggressive. I’m working on that in practice and I hope it carries into the matches.”
Sabalenka absent but expectations remain high
One notable absence from the draw is world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who continues to recover after her loss in the Australian Open final.
Even without the top-ranked player in the world, the presence of the remaining top five, along with former champion Elena Rybakina, has raised expectations for a high standard of tennis as the tournament progresses through the week.