Iga Swiatek claims another Qatar Open crown
Iga Swiatek wins the Qatar Open
A straight sets victory over Elena RybakinaIga delivered a third successive Qatar Open title for Iga Swiatek in Doha.
World number one Swiatek hit back from 4-1 down in the first set to win 7-6 (8) 6-2 and become the first player to win the same WTA tournament three years running since Serena Williams at the Miami Open (2013-15).
Williams is also the only player to win seven WTA 1000 titles faster than Swiatek, who said after her win: “I never knew that it’s so special to win three times in a row.
“But I would say that it happens when you actually don’t know about it, so I don’t aim to break any records. I’m just playing tennis, and that’s all.”
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina was in control of the first set until she sustained a shin injury while following through with her racquet on her serve at 4-1 up.
The world number three lost momentum after needing a time out to get bandaged up and Swiatek broke back immediately, going on to edge the tie-break before breaking Rybakina’s serve twice more in the second set.
Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner is on course to win his second successive tournament after beating Tallon Griekspoor in the ABN AMRO Open semi-finals in Rotterdam.
Sinner, back in action this week for the first time since winning the Australian Open, won 6-2 6-4 against home favourite Griekspoor and will play Alex de Minaur in Sunday’s final.
World number four Sinner, top seed in Rotterdam, came through his quarter-final after opponent Milos Raonic was forced to retire through injury as he trailed 7-6 (4) 1-1.
Australian world number 11 De Minaur booked his place in the final with a 6-4 6-3 win against Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov.
At the Delray Beach Open in Florida, top seed Taylor Fritz stormed home in the semi-final to defeat compatriot Marcos Giron 7-6 (8) 6-2.
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He will face fellow American Tommy Paul in Sunday’s final after the third seed eclipsed second seed Frances Tiafoe 6-2 6-2.
Britain’s Julian Cash and American partner Robert Galloway reached the men’s doubles final with a 6-4 7-5 win against Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinski.
In Sunday’s final, Cash could face fellow Briton Neal Skupski and Mexican Santiago Gonzalez, who face Diego Hidalgo and Cristian Rodriguez in their semi-final.
