Qatar Total Open, Doha, 2020 - WTA Premier

[tented]

DATE: February 23 - 29, 2020
SURFACE: Hard
PRIZE MONEY: $2,939,695
FIELD SIZE: 28
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Elise Mertens

Seeds:

1. Ashleigh Barty
2. Simona Halep
3. Karolina Pliskova
4. Belinda Bencic
5. Elina Svitolina
6. Sofia Kenin
7. Kiki Bertens
8. Petra Kvitova
9. Aryna Sabalenka
10. Petra Martic
11. Garbine Muguruza
12. Marketa Vondrousova
13. Alison Riske
14. Elena Rybakina
15. Maria Sakkari
16. Elise Mertens

The Tournament:

While the ATP first staged a tournament in Qatar in 1993, the Qatar Tennis Federation did not launch what is now known as the Qatar Total Open in Doha in 2001 as the popularity of women's sports was starting to take off in the country. Doha's ultra-modern Khalifa International Tennis Complex also hosted the season-ending WTA Championships from 2008 to 2010.

Qatar Total Open champions include WTA greats such as Justine Henin, Martina Hingis and Monica Seles, as well as two-time winners Victoria Azarenka, Anastasia Myskina and Maria Sharapova. (Src: WTA)

About Doha:

Doha, capital of the peninsular Persian Gulf country Qatar, is a modern city on Doha Bay. Ringing its downtown waterfront are numerous parks and the Corniche Promenade.

On a man-made island, the I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art houses an extensive collection from across the Muslim world. At Souq Waqif, a traditional market, vendors offer goods like clothing, crafts and spices.

Tourism Guide:




TV Coverage:

Australia - beIN
Austria - DAZN
Belarus - Belarus TV
Belgium - beIN
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia - IKO SportKlub
Bulgaria - Bulsat
Canada - TVA Sports, DAZN
Caribbean - SportsMax
China - iQIYI
Chinese Taipei - Sportcast
Czech Republic - O2 Czech Sports
Denmark - TV2
Estonia - Telia
Finland - NENT
France - beIN
Germany - DAZN
Greece - Cosmote TV
Hong Kong - Now TV
Hungary - Digisport
Italy, San Marino & Vatican City - Super Tennis
Japan - DAZN
Latin America - Sony
Latvia - Best4Sport
Malaysia & Brunei - Astro
Middle East & North Africa - beIN
Netherlands - Fox Sports
New Zealand - Spark
Norway - NENT
Poland - TVP Sport
Romania - Digisport
Russia - Match TV
Singapore - Starhub
Slovakia - Digisport
South Korea - Eclat
Switzerland - DAZN
Sweden - NENT
Thailand - Truevision
Turkey - beIN
Ukraine - Match TV, Poverkhnost
UK & Ireland - BT Sport
USA - Tennis Channel
Vietnam - Vietcontent

 

[tented]

The Draw:

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Halep withdrew ahead of this tournament,in hindsight after winning a tough final in Dubai good decision.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Projected round of 16,

Barty-Rybakina
Kenin -Muguruza
Pliskova-Riske
Kvitova-Martic
Svitolina-Vekic
Bencic-Mertens
Bertens-Vondrousova
Sabalenka-Sakkari.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova sustained a right leg injury in Dubai tournament and withdraws from Doha.
Timea Babos LL replaces Pavlyuchenkova in the draw.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Elina Svitolina 2020 season continues a downward spiral with 18 year old Amanda Anisismova defeating Elina in straight sets 63 63

 

[the AntiPusher]

Elina Svitolina 2020 season continues a downward spiral with 18 year old Amanda Anisismova defeating Elina in straight sets 63 63

Svitolina plays a lot of tournaments...I would have thought she would break through before Kenin and some of the others who a currently ranked below her.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Svitolina plays a lot of tournaments...I would have thought she would break through before Kenin and some of the others who a currently ranked below her.

I would think that she has the best practice partner in the world in Monfils...the human backboard

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

For the second consecutive week AO champion Sofia Kenin has failed to pass the first round of a tournament,she was defeated in straight sets by Dayana Yastremska 63 76(4).

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Defending champion Elise Mertens loses in 3 sets to Yulia Putintseva 46 63 62.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Elena Rybakina withdraws from the tournament,after her earlier match today,with an abductor strain,which gives her next opponent Ash Barty a walkover into the QFs.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Elena Rybakina withdraws from the tournament,after her earlier match today,with an abductor strain,which gives her next opponent Ash Barty a walkover into the QFs.

She didn't look very good today

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

She didn't look very good today

She has played a lot of tennis so far this year,playing back to back tournaments,she played Halep in the final at Dubai in a highly contested match,which she could have won,I am not surprised she is withdrawing,I happen to be a huge fan.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Amanda Anisimova has withdrawn prior to her match against Svetlana Kuznetsova due to GI illness,Sveta gets a walkover to the next round.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Ons Jabeur defeats World No3 Karolina Pliskova in 3 sets 64 36 63,though the last 3 games she was grimacing regarding her leg,but held on to win,hopefully she will be okay for her next match.

January Ons Jabeur is the first Arab woman to make the QF of a Grand Slam

February Ons Jabeur is the first Arab woman to make the QF in Doha.

 

[Hoergren]

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Q/Finals are set,

(1) Barty vs (11) Muguruza

(8) Kvitova vs Jabeur

(4) Bencic vs Kuznetsova

(9) Sabalenka vs Zheng Saisai.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Q/Final results so far,

Sabalenka (9) d S.Zheng 36 76(2) 63

S.Kuznetsova d B.Bencic (4) 64 64 after falling out of the 150 last year,Sveta is back around 32 and has a good chance of being seeded by Roland Garos.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In a tightly contested match Petra Kvitova defeats Ons Jabeur 76(2) 76 (4)

 

[the AntiPusher]

Q/Final results so far,

Sabalenka (9) d S.Zheng 36 76(2) 63

S.Kuznetsova d B.Bencic (4) 64 64 after falling out of the 150 last year,Sveta is back around 32 and has a good chance of being seeded by Roland Garos.

Sveta still has game..She was phenomenal at Cincy last Summer..She destroyed everyone but Madison.