Defending champion Anisimova forced to retire as Pliskova advances in Doha
Karolina Pliskova benefited from the abandonment of Amanda Anisimova (5-7, 7-6 (3), 4-1) on Monday evening. She’ll play the winner of the match between Tereza Valentova and No 14 seed Karolina Muchova in the next round
Amanda Anisimova, Doha 2026 | © Qatar Tennis
Karolina Pliskova reached the last 16 of the Qatar TotalEnergies Open on Monday evening after defending champion Amanda Anisimova was forced to retire due to illness. The 33-year-old Czech, currently ranked No 418 as she continues her comeback from a long-term ankle injury, led 5-7, 7-6(3), 4-1 when the third-seeded American ultimately withdrew.
The match began with world No 4 Anisimova appearing in control, racing to a 4-1 lead in the opening set. Although Pliskova fought back to level at 5-5, Anisimova secured the first set 7-5. The momentum shifted in the second set; despite Anisimova leading 3-0, she began to struggle visibly with her health. Pliskova forced a tiebreak, winning it 7-3 to send the contest into a decider.
Early in the third set, Anisimova called for a medical timeout to have her vital signs and blood pressure checked. Though she attempted to continue, she was unable to maintain the physical pace and retired trailing 4-1. In a post-match statement, Anisimova confirmed she had “got sick” in Doha and did not feel her best, leading to her decision to stop to avoid putting her health at further risk.
Pliskova, who previously defeated Solana Sierra 6-1, 6-2 in the opening round, now faces an all-Czech “derby” in the round of 16. She will play the winner of the match between the 14th seed Karolina Muchova and rising teenager Tereza Valentova.
1st round results
Iga Swiatek [1] – Bye
Janice Tjen [WC] – Beatriz Haddad Maia [LL] 6-0, 6-1
Daria Kasatkina – Moyuka Uchijima [Q] 4-6, 6-3, 6-0
Elise Mertens [16] – Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2, 6-1
Linda Noskova [9] – Maya Joint 6-4, 6-0
Varvara Gracheva [Q] – Laura Siegemund 7-6(3), 6-4
Maria Sakkari – Zeynep Sonmez [WC] 6-1, 6-3
Jasmine Paolini [6] – Bye
Amanda Anisimova [3] – Bye
Karolina Pliskova – Solana Sierra [LL] 6-1, 6-2
Tereza Valentova [Q] – Alexandra Eala 7-6(6), 6-1
Karolina Muchova [14] – Jaqueline Cristian 6-2, 6-3
Emma Navarro [12] – Tatjana Maria 7-5, 6-1
Anna Kalinskaya – Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-2, 6-1
Dayana Yastremska – Cristina Bucsa 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5)
Elina Svitolina [7] – Bye
Ekaterina Alexandrova [8] – Bye
Jelena Ostapenko – Anastasia Zakharova [Q] 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-4
Camila Osorio [Q] – Emma Raducanu 2-6, 6-4, 2-0 ret.
Katerina Siniakova – Clara Tauson [11] 6-4, 6-1
Magdalena Frech [LL] – Liudmila Samsonova [13] 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(7)
Ann Li – Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3
Elisabetta Cocciaretto [LL] – Elsa Jacquemot [WC] 7-6(4), 6-2
Coco Gauff [4] – Bye
Mirra Andreeva [5] – Bye
Magda Linette – Sonay Kartal [Q] 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Vera Zvonareva [Q] – Peyton Stearns [WC] 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
Victoria Mboko [10] – Marie Bouzkova 7-5, 6-2
Alycia Parks [Q] – Diana Shnaider [15] 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(5)
Qinwen Zheng – Sofia Kenin 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
Wang Xinyu – Emiliana Arango 6-1, 7-5
Elena Rybakina [2] – Bye
