Three-time consecutive Qatar Open winner Iga Swiatek is easily the most successful player to have graced the hardcourts of Doha, the capital city of Qatar. 2022, 2023, and 2024 have witnessed the Polish dominate and the current World number two began her quest for a record fourth Qatar Open title in style, defeating Maria Sakkari comprehensively in straight sets.
Swiatek enters Doha after the Australian Open loss, losing to eventual winner Madison Keys. The 23-year-old seemed to be in the form of her life having not dropped a set until the semis. Having been largely untroubled in her campaign, Swiatek faced a stern opponent in the form of Keys, despite which the second seed claimed the first set.
However, the American hammered the Pole in the second to force the match into a decider. Iga failed to convert the match on her serve and the match went to a tie-break which Keys eventually won. The Polish hopes to win titles, and the Qatar Open 2025 offers her the best opportunity.
Iga Swiatek triumphed in 2024 defeating Elena Rybakina in straight sets. She became the only player to have won in Qatar for the third time. Looking to create more history, the defending champion is already up and running in the 2025 edition of the tournament.
Her latest victory over Sakkari in round one of the event made her the player with the most wins i.e. 14 (tied with Victoria Azarenka), after the first 15 matches played at the Qatar Open since the competition’s inception.
Swiatek’s consistency is highlighted by the fact that she has won the first event in all of her last 50 WTA events, with her last loss coming in the opening round in 2021. The 5-time Grand Slam champion will next face the winner of the battle between Kazakh’s Yulia Putintseva and Czech youngster Linda Noskova, in the round of 16.
