Emma Raducanu and defending champion Amanda Anisimova both retired from their first-round matches at the 2026 Qatar Open due to physical issues. The British No.1 struggled against Camila Osorio, while Anisimova faltered against Karolína Plíšková in Doha. Their withdrawals highlight ongoing fitness concerns on the WTA Tour.
The 2026 Qatar Open saw two prominent players exit early on Monday, raising questions about player health amid a demanding schedule. Emma Raducanu, the British No.1, started strongly against qualifier Camila Osorio, securing the first set 6-2. However, Osorio fought back to win the second set 6-4, and Raducanu's condition worsened in the third. After being broken early, the 23-year-old called for the physio, had her blood pressure checked following a delay, and retired while trailing 0-2.
Raducanu had recently reached the final of the Transylvania Open but admitted to battling illness there. In a BBC interview, she said, “I was already battling a bit of a chest infection, but that [semi-final] match took it out of me extra… So today, I was pretty gassed from the start. But I would much rather have this situation than have lost that match and not played today and be a part of the final.” Temperatures around 80°F in Doha may have added to the strain for players transitioning from earlier events.
Similarly, Amanda Anisimova, the defending champion who won last year's final against Jeļena Ostapenko, faced a tough match with Karolína Plíšková. Anisimova led by a set and a break but lost the first set 5-7 and the second in a 7-6(3) tie-break. Trailing 4-1 in the third, she required a medical timeout for blood pressure checks and retired, visibly struggling to move.
In a post-match statement, Anisimova reflected, “I was really happy to be back and excited to play. 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.” Plíšková, who served seven aces and saved six of ten break points, advanced but expressed sympathy: “This is not how you want to win. Although I felt like we played good tennis for those two sets. It went long, so of course, you start to feel it in the body. I also started to feel it, but luckily I’m through to the next round. I hope she’s gonna be okay for the next week.”
Anisimova's exit could see her drop out of the top five in rankings. Both players now focus on recovery ahead of the Dubai Tennis Championships starting February 15. Their retirements join a list of recent WTA withdrawals, including Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, and others, amid scrutiny of the tour's congested calendar.
