The first WTA 1000 of the new season will take place between February 9-15, 2025 in the form of the Qatar Open in Doha. But who takes the title, make your pick with our poll below.
Iga Swiatek perhaps is the most obvious choice. She has won the title three times in a row and is imperious in Doha. Albeit for the last few editions since Swiatek became unbeatable, Sabalenka has not played.
She has not played the last two due to winning the Australian Open but won in 2021 so is well versed to winning these titles. Also she was very much at the top of her game in the Middle East prior to her Grand Slam breakout with Dubai and also Wuhan in the Asian swing being two tournaments she'd dominate.
So it seems likely that the crown will be shared between the pair if odds are anything to go by between the pair. But for many, it is their first tournament since the Australian Open.
So a real chance to prove their metal as the road towards the clay begins. Indian Wells and Miami also follow as well as Dubai so after some took some time off after a truncated off season and busy start to 2025, it is non stop from here.
Other top seeds on the poll are Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, Jasmine Paolini and Zheng Qinwen. Madison Keys is the big miss this fortnight and won't play Dubai either. She is injured and is taking the same route as Aryna Sabalenka did in the past of only playing post the Middle East swing.
But still it is almost a full contingent of top names who will aim to make their presence felt in Doha. The first WTA 1000 is upon us, but will your pick age well or be one that you regret. Time to make it count.
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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