Six of world’s top 10 at Qatar Open

Despite the loss of world No1 Naomi Osaka through injury, six of the women’s top 10 players descend on Doha this week for the Qatar Open.

Australian and the sports ’Open new champion, superstar, Osaka withdrew last week due to a back injury, leaving a big hole to fill for tournament organisers, which they have done with a strong field including three former world No1s.

Simona Halep is now the top seed and the Romanian will be joined by the Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova and Germany’s Angelique Kerber as the top seeds. All three were formerly at the top of the women’s rankings, Halep only being ousted by Osaka in January.

Halep, now ranked three in the world, and Kerber, sixth, are both Grand Slam winners. Pliskova, the world No5, is a former US Open finalist. Kerber seeks to erase the memory of her crushing straights sets fourth round defeat against Danielle Collins in Australia.

“It’s a tough draw [in Doha],” Kerber said on Sunday.

All three top seeds have a good record in Qatar. Halep and Kerber met in the 2014 final, with the Romanian winning, and Pliskova won the title two years ago. World No7 Elina Svitolina a wildcard replacement for Osaka is the fourth seed.

Also in Doha from the top 10 will be world No8 Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands and Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki, ranked tenth.

The Dane was the runner-up to Pliskova in 2017.

Svitolina said she had changed her mind about playing in Doha after initially deciding she needed more rest after Australia where she struggled with a shoulder and neck injury. But the 24-year-old now feels she is ready to return to the court earlier than anticipated.

seed Simona Halep moved up in the seedings after world No1 Naomi Osaka withdrew with an injury