The early‑season ATP and WTA tour swing through the Middle East has already produced a flurry of surprising results and momentum shifts as players settle into the 2026 calendar. Important hard‑court events in Doha, Qatar and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (scheduled Feb 16–22, 2026) are shaping up to be pivotal in setting the tone for the year ahead.
At the Qatar TotalEnergies Open (Feb 8–14), one of the WTA’s early Premier Mandatory events, several top seeds have fallen early — most notably when world No. 4 Coco Gauff exited in the second round after being defeated 6‑4, 6‑2 by No. 57 Elisabetta Cocciaretto, one of the biggest upsets of the week.
Another headline‑making result came from Maria Sakkari, who stunned top‑seeded Iga Świątek in a dramatic quarter‑final matchup, winning 2‑6, 6‑4, 7‑5 to reach the semifinals — her first triumph over Świątek in nearly five years. This marks one of the most significant reversals of early 2026.
Emerging talents are also making headlines in Doha. 18‑year‑old Mirra Andreeva, a top‑10 ranked young star, advanced through the draw with steady aggression, dismissing Magda Linette 7‑6, 6‑1 to reach the last 16. Her confident baseline play underlines the depth in the women’s game this season.
In contrast to the WTA, the ATP 500 Qatar ExxonMobil Open has seen changes to its expected field following withdrawals from major stars. Novak Djokovic withdrew citing fatigue after reaching the Australian Open final, leaving Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner as the top seeds and shifting attention to rising challengers seeking big wins in his absence.
Meanwhile, in Dubai, the WTA 1000 event set to begin later this month is already generating buzz for its stacked field and high stakes. Tournament organizers confirmed that 18 of the world’s Top 20 players will compete, although some players like Naomi Osaka have withdrawn due to injury, opening doors for lower‑ranked players to make deeper runs.
Out in the United Arab Emirates, tournament directors are also unveiling plans to expand the Dubai Tennis Championships facilities and enhance fan experience — signaling the event’s growing prominence on the tour. “Our priority has always been to create an atmosphere… where fans enjoy world‑class entertainment both on and off the court,” said Tournament Director Salah Tahlak.
With quarter‑finals underway in Doha and Dubai’s event on the near horizon, analysts suggest that the early upsets and breakthrough performances — especially from players outside the top 10 — could foreshadow one of the most open and unpredictable seasons in recent memory. As one tennis analyst put it: “If the Middle East swing is any indication, 2026 will be defined by depth and opportunity at every level.”
