Swiatek Goes for Four
Iga Swiatek has not lost a match in Doha since 2020, when she was just a teenager without a single major title to her name. Since falling to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the round of 32 that year, Swiatek has done nothing but win, win and win. The Pole has reeled off three consecutive titles and 12 consecutive matches in Qatar, and she’ll bid to become the first woman to win four consecutive titles at the same event since Caroline Wozniacki in New Haven from 2008 to 2011.
The three-time champion could meet Elena Rybakina, her opponent in last year’s final, as soon as the quarterfinals. Last year the Pole snapped Rybakina’s eight-match winning streak in a tense two-set final, 7-6(8), 6-2.
Swiatek will face Maria Sakkari in her first match, in the second round.
Swiatek, Doha final history:
2022: d. Kontaveit, 6-2, 6-0
2023: d. Pegula, 6-3, 6-0
2024: d. Rybakina, 7-6(8), 6-2
Sabalenka the Key Challenger
She’s the World No.1. She’s a former Doha champion. It was Sabalenka that triumphed in Qatar in 2020, the last year that Swiatek went without a title.
And she owns a 7-2 lifetime record in Doha. Sabalenk, who lost to Swiatek in straight sets in her last match at Doha in 2022, has not been back to the tournament since.
Top-seeded Sabalenka, who lost to Madison Keys in the Australian Open final, will face either Emma Raducanu or Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round.
No.1 Not in Play
Given that Swiatek is defending 1000 points from last year, and Sabalenka isn’t defending any points, the No.1 ranking will stay in Sabalenka’s hands after the tournament, regardless of result.
Projected Quarterfinals, if Seeds Hold
[1] Sabalenka vs Pegula [6]
[3] Gauff vs Navarro [8]
[7] Zheng vs Paolini [4]
[2] Swiatek vs Rybakina [5]
