Vinay Nayudu
Doha
World number one Iga Swiatek proved her credentials in great style as she upstaged Elena Rybakina to claim her third successive Qatar TotalEnergies Open title with a straight-set victory at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex on Saturday.
The memorable triumph also fetched Swiatek 1000 WTA points and a prize of $523, 485 besides the glittering trophy.Swiatek of Poland, who had lost all three of her matches against Rybakina in 2023, trailed by a double break in the first set but rallied to eventually beating the Kazakhstan player 7-6 (10-8) 6-2. It is four-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek’s first WTA title of the year and her 18th overall. Swiatek also became the first player to win a WTA singles title three times in a row since Serena Williams claimed the Miami Open from 2013-15. page 12