World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka eliminated from Qatar Open after shocking defeat

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka faced a surprising defeat in her opening match at the Qatar Open, losing to Ekaterina Alexandrova, ranked 26th, with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5). This match marked Sabalenka's first appearance since her loss to Madison Keys in the Australian Open final, and it was notable as it was the first time a reigning world number one lost in the first match of the Doha tournament. Alexandrova, who has already claimed a WTA title this season, showed resilience by coming back from breaks down in the third set before clinching victory. Meanwhile, Coco Gauff also exited the tournament early, losing to Marta Kostyuk in straight sets after a series of unforced errors. The outcomes set the stage for an exciting tournament, with Iga Swiatek aiming for her fourth consecutive title in Doha. Sabalenka expressed that she views this tournament as preparation for future events rather than a focus on immediate results.