Svitolina top seed as 19th Qatar Total Open begins tomorrow

DOHA: Reigning champion and third seed Aryna Sabalenka will be hoping to defend her crown at the 19th Qatar Total Open that starts here from tomorrow (Monday).

Ten of the WTA Top 20 players in the world are in the draw, including top seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, former champions and second seed Karolina Pliskova (2017) and fourth-seed Petra Kvitova (2018).

The final is scheduled on March 6 (Saturday).

Kiki Bertens (5th seed), Belinda Bencic (6), Jennifer Brady (7) and Victoria Azarenka (8) are the other seeded players in the tournament that offers a total prize money of USD $564,530.

Two-time Doha champion Azarenka (2012-13) and 2016 runner-up Jelena Ostapenko are among the four wildcard recipients who would be seen in action at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.

Brady, who recently reached her maiden Grand Slam final at the Australian Open and made her Top 20 debut, will look to keep up the momentum she started after winning her first WTA title last year at Lexington.

Egypt’s Mayar Sherif will be one to look out for after she became the first woman tennis player from her country to win a main draw Grand Slam match at the Australian Open.

She defeated fellow qualifier Paquet in straight sets before going down to Juvan in the second round.

The 24-year-old enters this week’s main draw as a wildcard and ranked at a career-best of world No.114, achieved after her run at Melbourne Park.