Naomi is in qualifying for Doha Qatar WTA (according to the lists on TennisForum). Makes some sense as she is main draw the following week in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia WTA. $2K even for losing 1st round in qualifying in Qatar; helps to pay for the flights

kundalini wrote:

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Naomi is in qualifying for Doha Qatar WTA (according to the lists on TennisForum). Makes some sense as she is main draw the following week in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia WTA. $2K even for losing 1st round in qualifying in Qatar; helps to pay for the flights

 

-- Edited by kundalini on Thursday 4th of February 2016 06:27:12 PM

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 And Major ManCity sponsor and patron Etihad gives her an unexpected upgrade into Business class, en route to a WTA Premier, where the local organisers do have some MD WCs at their disposal; and no great waiting list of local talent forming an orderly queue.

In the absence of much support from the LTA, NB could do very well for herself if adopted as a "pet player" by the Gulf Arabs. She already seems to have become a bit of a spokesperson/mascot for ManCIty; and the owners are not without influence.

If Naomi's name is unexpectedly absent from the qualifying draw, I think that should possibly be seen as a very good omen.

Doha's wildcards have gone to Fatma Al-Nabhani, Genie Bouchard and Çagla Büyükakçay

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Qatar_Total_Open

However, Naomi will be seeded in qualifying and could well be one of the top 8 seeds if more players withdraw before the qualifying draw on thursday. 

Unless she puts together some amazing results in her next few events, Naomi will still need wildcards for Birmingham and Eastbourne if she wishes to avoid playing qualifying, as she is a long way off the main draw cuts, which last year were 67 and 49.