Amanda Anisimova, the third seed and defending champion at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open 2026, unexpectedly retired due to illness during her first-round match in Doha on Monday. Facing former winner Karolina Pliskova, Anisimova withdrew while trailing 4-1 in the third set after splitting the first two sets in a fiercely contested battle.
Details of the Match Between Anisimova and Pliskova
The match saw Anisimova take the initial set 7-5 before Pliskova fought back to win the second set in a tiebreak, 7-6 (3). However, health issues hindered Anisimova in the deciding set, leading to her retirement. Pliskova, who won the Qatar title in 2017, served seven aces and saved six out of ten break points during the encounter.
I was really happy to be back and excited to play,
Anisimova stated post-match.
I got sick here, so I wasn’t feeling my best, but I thought it was a good match regardless. I feel we both played really well. Congrats to her, it’s good to see her back playing.
? Amanda Anisimova, Player
It feels great to be back,
Pliskova expressed in her on-court interview after returning from an ankle injury that sidelined her for a year.
I missed (the fans) as well, last year. As you know, I won here, so I have great memories. Two years ago, I played the semifinals. So I just enjoy this place so much.
? Karolina Pliskova, Player
Other Players Impacted by Illness During First Round
Anisimova was not the only competitor affected by health problems in Doha. Emma Raducanu of Great Britain retired in the third set of her opening match against Colombia’s Camila Osorio after medical attention revealed ongoing issues, mirroring concerns from her recent loss in the Transylvania Open final.
Raducanu’s health challenges have been evident, having requested medical timeouts to monitor her condition, including blood pressure checks during matches. Osorio advanced with a scoreline of 2-6, 6-4, 2-0 (retired) following Raducanu’s withdrawal.
Highlights from Other Early Rounds in the Tournament
Russian fifth seed Mirra Andreeva secured a straight-sets victory over Poland’s Magda Linette with a 7-6 (0), 6-1 result, demonstrating resilience by saving 10 of 11 break points in a match lasting nearly two hours. This Round of 32 encounter complemented a series of Round of 64 matches concluded on Monday.
In those initial rounds, several players delivered convincing performances. Czech ninth seed Linda Noskova dominated Australian Maya Joint 6-4, 6-0 in just over an hour, while American Emma Navarro overcame Germany’s Tatjana Maria 7-5, 6-1. Czech Katerina Siniakova upset Denmark’s 11th seed Clara Tauson, winning 6-4, 6-1.
Other notable results included Indonesia’s Janice Tjen defeating Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-0, 6-1 and Russian Anna Kalinskaya overpowering Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-2, 6-1. Chinese players Xinyu Wang and Qinwen Zheng, Greece’s Maria Sakkari, Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko, Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska, and Czech Tereza Valentova also advanced.
Significance and Future Expectations at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open
Anisimova’s unexpected retirement due to illness raises concerns about player health and readiness early in the season’s key tournaments. Her withdrawal places emphasis on recovery and fitness management as she aims to defend her title in upcoming events. Meanwhile, Pliskova’s return to form after injury and winning her opening match highlights her potential to challenge for the championship once again.
The Qatar TotalEnergies Open continues to showcase high-level competition with multiple seeded players advancing despite some health setbacks. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see how the dynamics unfold as the tournament progresses toward the later rounds.
