Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka Withdraw from Qatar Open

The first WTA Masters 1000 event of the season is upon us, with the Tour set to arrive in Doha next week. After the highs and lows of the Australian Open, players now shift their focus to the Middle East swing as they look to capitalise on what is still the relatively early stage of the 2026 tennis season.

Unfortunately, the tournament will be missing two of its biggest stars, who have opted out due to fatigue or injury suffered at the Australian Open.

Aryna Sabalenka

The first WTA Masters tournament of the year will be without the World No. 1, as Aryna Sabalenka has confirmed her withdrawal from Doha. The Belarusian, who won the title here in 2020, will not be competing at the event this season.

Although Sabalenka began the year perfectly, winning her first 11 matches of the season, her Australian Open campaign once again ended in bitter disappointment. Just like last year, she fell short in the final, marking the third Slam final defeat in her last five Major appearances.

Sabalenka is now expected to take some additional rest before returning to competition in Dubai the following week.

Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka has also announced that she will not take part in the Qatar Open, due to the same issue that forced her to withdraw mid-tournament at the Australian Open.

Osaka was forced to leave Melbourne unexpectedly after suffering an abdominal injury, which will also keep her out of the Masters 1000 event in Doha. As of now, no clear timeline has been set for her return to competition.

What This Means for Doha

Despite the absence of these high-profile names, the Qatar Open is still expected to feature a strong and competitive field. Every other member of the WTA top 10 is set to compete in the 56-player draw, with two-time champion Iga Swiatek once again leading the way in Doha.