Top draw, tough challenge at Qatar Total Open

Doha: “Some of the second-round pairings at Qatar Total Open could well be the semifinals of other tournaments and Grand Slams, said Russian Elena Vesnina at the draw ceremony and she had a valid point.

Such is the riches of talent on display at the 2018 Qatar Total Open that Vesnina could well run into 11th seed Kristina Mladenovic if she passes her first-round test against a qualifier. Likewise, Maria Sharapova, who will face another qualifier first up, will mostly be playing Slovakian 14th seed Magdalena Rybarikova in the second round.

The brief draw ceremony on Saturday, conducted by Tournament Supervisor Tony Cho, was also attended by Qatar Tennis Federation Secretary General & General Co-ordinator of Qatar Total Open Tariq Darwish Zainal, Total Deputy VP of HR, Communication and Corporate Social Responsibilities Christophe Eon, Tournament Director Saad Al Mohannadi and QTF Board Director Karim Alami, besides Vesnina, Daria Kasatkina, Oman’s Fatma Al Nabhani and Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur.

Eon, representing Total, said it was a special field, probably the strongest ever. “It’s going to be a brilliant tournament, because the weather is perfect and we have a number of top players,” said Eon.

From recently crowned Australian Open champion and top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki to second-ranked Simona Halep to reigning champion in Qatar Karolina Pliskova to Anastasija Sevastova, 14 of the top 15 in WTA rankings — eighth-ranked Venus Williams is the only absentee — will fight for glory, the beautiful trophy and a substantial prize money at the WTA Premier 5 category event.

Besides, the likes of Russian glamour girl Sharapova, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and former world No.2 Agnieszka Radwanska are looking the slightest of opportunities to find their way back into the elite circle, adding to the intrigue.

And that’s what made Vesnina say that this is one of the toughest draws in any tournament.

“It’s going to be a very strong tournament, you know. It’s very prestigious and it would be great to win here,” said Vesnina. “It’s the beginning of the year and everybody is fresh and hungry.”

 Fellow Russian Daria Kasatkina also said it would be a very tough tournament.

“It’s very tough field with all the top players and you won’t get any easy matches, said Kasatkina, who will also take on a qualifier in the first round.

Middle East’s hopes will rest on Al Nabhani, the gold medallist at the Arab Games in Doha in 2011. Al Nabhani, however, has a tough first-round fixture, against Rybarikova.

“It’s going to be a very tough match, but I’ll try my best,” said Al Nabhani. “You never know what’s gonna happen.”

Meanwhile at the top of the draw, Wozniacki, who has a bye in the first round just like all top-eight seeds, is expected to cruise into the last 16 where she might have to face a tricky opponent in Sharapova or Rybarikova while Halep is also expected to move into the pre-quarterfinals without much of a trouble. But after that, anything can happen. And that’s why Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex could be a good place to be in, starting Monday.