Doha: American tennis player Amanda Anisimova, the defending champion, has confirmed her readiness to defend her title at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open, a WTA 1000 tournament, in its 24th edition, organized by the Qatar Tennis Federation at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. Speaking at a press conference held today, Anisimova, who is ranked fourth in the world and seeded third in the tournament, expressed her delight at returning to Doha.
According to Qatar News Agency, Anisimova conveyed her happiness about returning to Doha, a place that holds significant memories for her. She stated, "I am very happy to be back in Doha, which holds many wonderful memories for me. I won my first major title here last season, and I am extremely excited to compete again." Anisimova feels mentally strong and prepared for the tournament, drawing confidence from her past experiences. She mentioned that winning last year's title is a source of inspiration during challenging times.
Anisimova also reflected on her recent performance at the Australian Open, where she reached the quarterfinals for the first time. She identified areas for improvement, which she has been focusing on ahead of the Qatar tournament. Her primary ambition remains winning a Grand Slam title. Anisimova expressed her eagerness to perform well in the Qatar TotalEnergies Open 2026, appreciating the tournament's atmosphere and organization.
Last year, Amanda Anisimova claimed victory by defeating Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets, 6-4 and 6-3. Meanwhile, Italian player Jasmine Paolini shared her satisfaction at returning to Doha for the tournament, having arrived early to acclimatize. Paolini, ranked eighth in the world and seeded sixth, noted the different conditions compared to Australia and aimed to find her rhythm quickly.
Paolini emphasized focusing on one match at a time without worrying about the draw. She expressed her desire to perform strongly and gain from the tournament's atmosphere. It is noteworthy that the draw for the Qatar TotalEnergies Open 2026 has exempted Amanda Anisimova, Jasmine Paolini, and the other top eight seeds from the first round, with their campaigns starting in the second round.