Swiatek Wins Third Straight Doha Title
For the third consecutive year, Iga Swiate is the Doha champion.
The top-ranked woman in the world won the WTA 1000 title for the third straight time on Saturday, holding off fourth-ranked Elena Rybakina 7-6(8), 6-2 to win the 18th singles title of her career, and the first of 2024.
“I’m happy that I kept working and just didn’t really think about too much stuff during this week, and just focused on the right things, because I think it was the key,” said Swiatek. “Coming here and being the double-defending champion wasn’t easy. So I’m happy that I have this experience already and hopefully I’m going to use it.”
Swiatek had actually lost her last three meetings with Rybakina and the two battled one another through a 90-minute opening set. Rybakina raced out to a 4-1 lead before Swiatek fought back and forced a tiebreaker, where she hit a backhand winner to go ahead 9-8 before a passing shot on set point sealed the first set.
After Swiatek saved two break points in the opening game of the second set, she seized control and never looked back.
“Today was that kind of match where I used his experience and just leaned on what he told me in terms of the tactics and what he wanted me to play,” Swiatek said, referencing her coach Tomasz Wiktorowski. “So for sure this match is one of the examples that it’s working.”
