Sabalenka and Osaka Headline Ten Withdrawals From Qatar Open

A compressed post‑Melbourne turnaround likely drove players to prioritize recovery.

Overview

Tournament organizers confirmed ten pre‑event withdrawals before play begins Sunday at the season’s first WTA 1000 in Doha.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka opted to rest after the Australian Open and is expected to target a return in Dubai next week.
Naomi Osaka pulled out with the abdominal injury that ended her Melbourne run, and she has not set a return date.
Replacements include Emiliana Arango for Sabalenka and Xinyu Wang for Osaka, with Daria Kasatkina and Laura Siegemund also moving into the main draw.
Despite the exits of Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, Iva Jovic and others, the field is still slated to feature the rest of the WTA top 10 led by two‑time Doha champion Iga Swiatek.