It is now the turn of the men to take over the Qatari capital, but one ATP player has refused to play in Doha again after he did not receive a wildcard.

Jannik Sinner won’t be at the Qatar Open either this year, after accepting a three month ban for failing two anti-doping tests last year.

One player who definitely will be in Doha is former champion Novak Djokovic, who has recovered from the injury that he sustained at the Australian Open.

While the two Qatar Open events take place in separate weeks of the calendar, a comparison has been made after a WTA doubles star called out the differing gifts players receive.

Ellen Perez calls out the Qatar Open after receiving a water bottle

While Anisimova was winning the singles WTA event, Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani claimed the doubles title together.

Paolini and Errani beat the pairing of Xinyu Jiang and Fang-hsien Wu, with the latter having something to say about the lack of gifts being offered this year.

In her post final speech Wu said, “Last year we have player gifts, but this year we don’t have.”

Some more context was added to this situation by top 10 doubles player Ellen Perez, who revealed that she was given a bracelet last year that was downgraded to a water bottle in 2025.

However, the big revelation came when Perez claimed that ATP players who play at the Qatar Open actually receive mobile phones as a gift every year.

“The men get iPhones every year and this year we get a water bottle…” Perez said on X (formerly known as Twitter). “Last year we at least got a bracelet but I guess that even got too much to ask for @QatarTennis.”

Perez received some backlash for her comments with some social media users suggested that she was being ungrateful, but the Australian clarified that her issue was actually with the differential in gifts compared to the men and not the gift itself.

“(To be honest) Tbh my problem isn’t the gift it’s the disparity especially given the level of event,” added Perez. “Dubai gives power bank and candle or something like that. I never think I deserve a gift but if you set the men’s standard high in a lower event it’s hard to not feel hard done by for the women.”

Differential in Qatar Open prize money between WTA and ATP events

Aryna Sabalenka spoke about equal prize money with her good friend Paula Badosa in a recent interview, with the WTA pledging to match the ATP at all joint 1000 level events by 2027.

The WTA tournament in Doha has a higher calibre field as a 1000 level event in comparison to the men’s that is an ATP 500.

This meant that the total prize pot for the women’s tournament was $3,654,963, while the men share a slightly smaller $2,760,000.

Anisimova received $597,000 for her victory in Doha, while the men’s champion will be given $80,835 less than that.

Although, women’s players are actually offered less prize money in qualifying than the men.

The main draw of the first ATP 500 edition of the Qatar Open gets underway on Monday February 17, with Carlos Alcaraz in action against Marin Cilic on the opening day.