Naomi Osaka is not the only player who will not be playing at this upcoming WTA 1000 tournament.
Osaka suffered an abdominal injury at the Australian Open, which forced the former world number one to withdraw ahead of her third round match.
After suffering this injury, Osaka confirmed her withdrawal from the Qatar Open, which is set to get underway next week.
World number 23 Marta Kostyuk also obtained an injury at the Australian Open and subsequently pulled out of the WTA 1000 tournament in Doha, and both she and Osaka have now been joined by three American players.
Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys withdraw from the Qatar Open
The Qatar Open is the first WTA 1000 tournament of the season, and last year saw new American number one Amanda Anisimova win the title.
Anisimova still remains on the entry list to defend her title in Doha, but three American players have confirmed they will not be joining her.
Jessica Pegula reached the Australian Open semifinals for the first time this year, and has now withdrawn from the Qatar Open, where she reached the final in 2023.
The world number six played in Doha last year, but 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who was beaten by Pegula in Melbourne this year, did not.
Keys has not competed at the Qatar Open since 2023, and she appears to be continuing her absence from the Middle East swing once again after withdrawing from the tournament.
The third and final American player to have withdrawn from the Qatar Open is Iva Jovic, who enjoyed a breakthrough run at the Australian Open this year.
Jovic has never played at the Qatar Open before, and her debut will be pushed back at least another year following her withdrawal.
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The Qatar Open main draw will get underway on Sunday, February 8, and is set to feature Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina, but there are more withdrawals expected for the WTA 1000 tournament.
What is next for Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys and Iva Jovic?
The Qatar Open is one of two WTA 1000 tournaments taking place in the Middle East, which will be followed by the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Given that the official reasons for their withdrawals have not been confirmed, it is not yet clear as to whether Pegula, Keys and Jovic plan to also pull out of the Dubai Tennis Championships as well.
If Pegula, Keys and Jovic do all withdraw from the Dubai Tennis Championships as expected, then they will all play their next tournament at home in the States.
Keys, who has fallen down to world number 15 after failing to defend her Australian Open title, is next scheduled to compete during the sunshine double of Indian Wells and the Miami Open, while Pegula and Jovic will return to the match court sooner.
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Pegula won the ATX Open in Austin, Texas, last year and is set to return to the WTA tournament as the top seed.
While Jovic will be hoping to continue her momentum from the Australian Open in Austin, with the event getting underway on Monday, February 23.
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