The post–Australian Open fallout continues to reshape the early Middle East swing, and the Qatar Open has now confirmed its most significant withdrawal yet: World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will not compete in Doha, citing a late change to her tournament schedule.
Sabalenka’s absence elevates Iga Swiatek to top seed for the first WTA 1000 event of the season, while raising further questions about player load and recovery following a demanding Australian summer.
Sabalenka Opts for Rest After Another Melbourne Final
Sabalenka is taking an additional week off after reaching her fourth consecutive Australian Open final — a remarkable feat that once again underlined her consistency at the highest level. However, as in 2025, the Belarusian left Melbourne without the trophy, falling this time to Elena Rybakina, who avenged her defeat in the 2023 final on the same stage.
With physical and mental freshness a priority, the four-time Grand Slam champion has chosen to skip Doha, a tournament she previously won in 2020 after defeating Petra Kvitova in the final. The decision comes with little ranking risk: Sabalenka defended minimal points in Qatar following a first-round loss to Ekaterina Alexandrova last year, and she still holds a commanding lead of more than 3,000 points over Swiatek at the top of the rankings.
Her return is now scheduled for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships next week.
Doha Draw Weakened by High-Profile Withdrawals
Sabalenka’s withdrawal adds to a growing list of notable absences from the Doha field. Jessica Pegula, Naomi Osaka, Madison Keys, and rising star Iva Jovic have all pulled out in recent days, either as precautionary measures or due to adjustments in their early-season planning.
Injuries have also played a role. Marta Kostyuk remains in recovery and will not travel to Qatar, while Lois Boisson, Eva Lys, and Veronika Kudermetova have yet to begin their 2026 seasons due to ongoing fitness issues.
Several players have benefited from the thinning draw, with Alexandra Eala, Emiliana Arango, Daria Kasatkina, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and Cristina Bucsa all moving directly into the main draw as replacements.
Swiatek Emerges as Clear Favorite
With Sabalenka out, Iga Swiatek enters the Qatar Open as the undisputed favorite. The Pole is a three-time champion in Doha and arrives with a staggering 16-match winning streak at the event between 2022 and 2025, before her run was halted by Jelena Ostapenko in last year’s semifinals.
Second seed Elena Rybakina anchors the opposite side of the draw and continues to ride extraordinary form, having won 19 of her last 20 matches dating back to late 2025. Defending champion Amanda Anisimova and two-time Grand Slam winner Coco Gauff also headline a field that, despite the withdrawals, still promises intrigue.
History suggests surprises are never far away in Doha. Last year, four of the top eight seeds exited in their opening matches, and the semifinals saw both Swiatek and Alexandrova upset. Anisimova ultimately claimed her first WTA 1000 title, defeating Ostapenko in straight sets — a breakthrough that foreshadowed the best season of her career, including WTA 1000 titles in Doha and Beijing and runner-up finishes at Wimbledon and the US Open.