Controversy erupts as Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka-led Qatar Open draw gets changed by WTA minutes after unveiling

The Qatar Open, a premier WTA 1000 tournament in Doha, has been embroiled in controversy following a technical error during its draw ceremony. Initially, the draw placed top players Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka in separate halves, setting the stage for a potential semifinal clash. However, due to a technical glitch, the draw was partially redone, leading to confusion and speculation among fans and players.

The issue arose when the draw was completed, but an empty line remained on the 56-line draw sheet due to a human error during the input of players’ names. To maintain the integrity of the draw, officials decided to reallocate all 40 unseeded players. This led to discrepancies between the initial and revised draw sheets, causing confusion among participants and spectators.

Emma Raducanu, for instance, was initially drawn against Anna Kalinskaya, but after the redraw, she faced Ekaterina Alexandrova. This change has been particularly challenging for Raducanu, who has faced a series of early exits in recent tournaments.

The controversy highlights the challenges organizers face in ensuring transparency and fairness during such events. While the WTA has addressed the issue, the incident has sparked discussions about the procedures and technologies used in tournament draws.