Superb Swiatek supreme in Doha, beats Kontaveit in straight sets

Iga Swiatek won her second WTA 1000 title as she lifted the Qatar TotalEnergies Open trophy in Doha, snapping Anett Kontaveit’s impressive streak to win 6-2, 6-0.

She is now set to be the new world No 4 when the next rankings are released – with Kontaveit expected to be tucked in just behind her as world No 5.

Coming off the back of her title in St Petersburg, the Estonian was looking for her tenth win in a row.

But Swiatek was looking to maintain a more focused streak – her winning run against Kontaveit. The two met twice in Grand Slams in 2021, at Roland-Garros and the US Open, and the younger woman won both of them.

“It seemed impossible to beat you, Anett!” said an emotional Swiatek after the match, admitting she was nervous beforehand.

Swiatek: two games lost in two WTA 1000 finals

Nevertheless, she started brightly, getting the first break early on to take a 2-1 lead after ten minutes – but Kontaveit responded immediately, putting the pressure on as the Pole’s serve crumbled, and broke right back.

Swiatek employed the drive volley to good effect, and broke the Kontaveit serve twice in succession – the second time including a point from a beautiful slide and lob that took her to advantage. The 20-year-old won the opening set on her own serve after 39 minutes.

Kontaveit might have taken a bit of encouragement from the knowledge that she is the only player to win a title on the WTA Tour this season after losing the first set is Kontaveit, coming back to beat Maria Sakkari in St Petersburg.

But she found herself ill equipped to deal with a sizzling Swiatek, and took to her chair after going a double-break down in the second set, covering her face with a towel and seeming very upset.

There was no mercy from Swiatek, who continued to dismantle the Kontaveit serve and power through on her own racquet, conceding just nine points in the second set.

Perhaps Kontaveit can take a little consolation from the fact that she did better than Karolina Pliskova, Swiatek’s opponent in her only other WTA 1000 final so far – the Pole dished out a double bagel to the former world No 1 as she lifted the title in Rome last year.

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