STARNBERG, March 1, 2021 (Guest post)

After one month of the start of the season in the land down under, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) goes to Doha, Qatar. Before, the Qatar Total Open for the women is held each year in February.

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the dates for this year have been moved forward. Do you want to know more about this year’s tournament? Below are some of the things you need to know about the 2021 Qatar Total Open.

Read on to know more!

Watch Out For Mayar Sherif And Ons Jabeur

The highest-ranked tennis players in the tour from the Arab world would, without a doubt, love to cause a sensation or stir within the next weeks. Mayar Sherif lost in the second round of the Australian Open to Kaja Juvan, while Ons Jabeur heads into the tournament from a third-round exit. Moreover, Jabeur ranked in the bottom half of the draw and will kick off her tour against a qualifier.

What’s more, in the second round, she could likely battle against Karolina Pliskova. Ahead of the Qatar tournament, Jabeur told some reporters that she wants to work toward something big in these tournaments. Additionally, Jabeur thinks that it is very important for an Arab woman or man to win in such tournaments.

Also, if she were to win a tennis championship title, Jabeur would want it to be in either Dubai or Doha. On the other hand, Sherif became the first Egyptian woman to advance past the first round of a Grand Slam tournament.

WTA 500 Event

The Qatar Total Open is part of the WTA 500 series and WTA 1000 level every year. The field is a 16 team doubles draw and a 28 players singles draw. Additionally, winners will get 470 points.

Cagla Buyukakcay, Maya Sherif, Jelena Ostapenko, and Victoria Azarenka were awarded wildcards. What’s more, the youngest player in the tournament is 19-year old Amanda Anisimova. Make sure to bet on tennis players that have high odds to win.

Aryna Sabalenka Seeks A Doha Championship Defense

In last year’s final, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Kvitova. This season, Sabalenka hopes to defend her title and make a journey like Azarenka to come to be the second woman to defend the rare Doha title defense.

Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys, And Kiki Bertens Kick Off Their Seasons

Madison Keys, and Kiki Bertens are more than ready to go for the first time this season. Bertens played last year at Roland Garros after having surgery on her Achilles tendon. After hitting balls on December 31 for ten minutes, the Dutch star was cleared to resume competition by her doctor. For Bertens, since it is her first tournament in a very long time, it will be hard to foresee her play. Thus, her first goal would be to enjoy her time playing again, getting her rhythm back, and see where her level is.

Since Keys tested positive for the virus, her season start was delayed. In this year’s season, Keys will battle against Bencic, Bertens will take on Ostapenko in their first-round matches.

Victoria Azarenka Wishes To Revive Her Doha Success

Victoria Azarenka who was a Doha Open titleholder in 2012 and 2013 returns to the event after taking a wildcard. Azarenka has had amazing success in Doha, holding a 14-2 record throughout her career. Moreover, she has won the championship or made the final in 3:4 main-draw appearances. This year, Azarenka will face Svetlana Kuznetsova in her first-round match.

Takeaway

Under stringent COVID-19 safety guidelines, the 2021 Qatar Open starts on March 1. However, some top tennis players won’t be able to play. Even so, there are a lot of players you should see in this tournament like Ons Jabeur, Karolina Pliskova, and the defending champion, Aryna Sabalenka.