The WTA1000 Doha race continued, with Azarenka and Christian both retiring due to injury, and big seeds such as Sabalenka and Krejickova all passing. Notable matches include the No. 2 seed Krejickova swept Poland's Reinet 6-1, 6-3 to advance to the round of 16. It is worth mentioning that this is the Czech's debut in the singles main event of this station, and she has failed to break through in the previous three qualifying matches.
St. Niko Dubai champion and No. 15 seed Ostapenko beat Anisimova 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to extend the Middle East season's winning streak to seven games and advance to the round of 16. She will follow up on this year's Australian Open against No. 2 seed Kregitskova, who won in a reversal. The current record of the two is a 2-2 draw, who will have the last laugh at this reunion?
No. 8 seed Abdul-Abdul-Abdul-Jabbar won 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 in three sets to reverse Sasnovic from the qualifiers, and the first game was difficult to pass. She will compete with Czech Martinkova for tickets to the quarter-finals, who eliminated lucky loser Ruth 6-2, 6-4. Two-time tournament champion and 12th seed Azarenka withdrew from the Doha tournament due to injury, and her opponent Brungel won without a fight to advance directly to the round of 16, followed by the 5th seed Muguruza.
Former tournament champion and top seed Sabarenka swept France's Coney, who was playing wild cards, 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the round of 16. The Belarusian did not face a single break point in the whole game, and the double error conditions that plagued her in the new season have improved, with only four in total. She will face Swiss player Teichmann in the next round, who eliminated Ujtfank 7-6 (9)/7-5.
No. 7 seed Svatek successfully advanced to the round of 16 after three fierce sets to defeat Swiss SLR player GruBich 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. She will play Russia's Kasakina again in the next round. The two sides have met in three consecutive stops this season, with Swatak winning both in straight sets at the Australian Open and last week in Dubai.
In the already concluded third round, 14th seed Gauff defeated 3 seed Bardoza 6-2, 6-3 in straight sets to win her fifth career TOP10 victory, which was also her fourth WTA 1000 singles quarterfinals (2021 Dubai, Roma, Montreal). Next, the Americans will wait for the winner between Pergula and Sakkari.
In addition, in the second round of the women's doubles in Doha, No. 2 seeds Zhang Shuai / Shibahara Yingcai defeated Zaramizawa / Martinkova 5-7, 6-3, 10-8 to successfully advance to the quarterfinals. Next, they will compete with the American duo Pegula/Gauff for tickets to the semi-finals.