February 17, 2024
Updated 1 hour ago
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Iga Swiatek is a three-time French Open winner and won the US Open in 2022
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek won the Qatar Open title for the third consecutive time with a straight-sets win over Elena Rybakina.
Poland's Swiatek was behind by a double break in the first set, but regrouped and defeated Kazakhstan's Rybakina 7:6 (10:8), 6:2 in Doha.
Swiatek lost her three games against Rybakina in 2023.
It is the first WTA title of the year for four-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek and her 18th overall.
She is the first player to win three consecutive WTA singles titles since American Serena Williams won the Miami Open from 2013 to 2015.
Swiatek trailed Rybakina 4-1 in the first set but found her rhythm, forcing serve again and securing a set point before ending the tiebreak after 90 minutes.
Rybakina had to take a medical timeout after hitting her leg with her racket while serving in the first set and quickly broke in the second set.
Swiatek broke Rybakina's serve again before serving for the win.
Both are scheduled to take part in the Dubai Tennis Championship, which begins on Friday.
Elsewhere, Australian Alex de Minaur celebrated his 25th birthday by beating Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 6-3 to reach the final of the Rotterdam Open.
De Minaur will face Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner on Sunday after the Italian beat Tallon Griekspoor 6-2, 6-4.
Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz missed the first final of the season when he lost 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 to Chile's Nicolas Jarry in the semi-finals of the Argentina Open.
Spain's Alcaraz was the defending champion in the clay court event.
At the Delray Beach Open in Florida, Julian Cash will face his compatriot Neal Skupski in the men's doubles final on Sunday.
Cash and American Robert Galloway defeated Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinski 6-4, 7-5 in the semifinals, while Skupski and Mexican Santiago Gonzalez defeated Diego 7-6 (11-9), 7-6 (7-5). Hidalgo and Cristian won over Rodriguez.
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