Angelique Kerber faces a huge test if she is to match her efforts of last year at the Qatar Open, with the in-form Simona Halep unable to defend her title.

German Kerber, the eighth seed and runner-up last year, will meet unseeded Belarusian Victoria Azarenka in a tough first-round draw.

Azarenka holds a 3-0 record over Kerber, who has been battling this year and exited in Dubai in the round of 16.

Two-time grand slam winner Azarenka was given a wildcard in Doha for what will be her first appearance since the Australian Open.

Azarenka is also a two-time champion in Qatar, having clinched the title in 2012 and 2013.

Halep was set to be the second seed and would have got a bye to the second round, but the WTA announced her withdrawal on Sunday amid fitness concerns for the Romanian.

It will give the remainder of the field a boost, as Halep was looking to claim her third title of the year, having beaten Karolina Pliskova in the Dubai final.

Left-hander Petra Kvitova is perhaps best placed to capitalise on Halep's absence, as the Czech is the top-ranked player at the WTA Premier event.

Kvitova could face out-of-form Serbian Jelena Jankovic in the second round.

While Jankovic has struggled, Kvitova's form has also been scratchy since she claimed the title in Sydney in January.

All eyes will be on Azarenka, who missed the back end of last year due to a foot injury, as she looks to rise from her ranking of 50th in the world.