Qatar Open 2025: Iga Swiatek eyes big feat after convincing opening round win

Iga Swiatek is the defending champion of the Qatar Open.

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.

Also Read: Five players who have withdrawn from WTA Qatar Open 2025

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.

14 – Iga Swiatek is the player with the most wins (14) after their first 15 matches played at the Qatar Open since the event’s inception in 2001, equalling Victoria Azarenka. Eagle.#QatarTotalEnergiesOpen | @QatarTennis @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/Ifvq1E9wwL

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) February 10, 2025

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.

Also Read: Top five players with most WTA 1000 title wins

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.

Also Read: Players with most wins in WTA 1000 events

However, the road to glory remains a challenging one for the former top seed as many top-ranked players will be eyeing the title. Current world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, who last won in Doha, back in 2020 will hope for redemption following a close defeat in Melbourne which squashed the Belarusian’s hopes of a rare three-peat.

In the mix would also be US Open winner Coco Gauff who had an outing to forget Down Under, alongside fellow American Jessica Pegula. Qinwen Zheng, who suffered a massive fall in rankings after a round-two exit will be eager to assert her dominance, while Paula Badosa who made the semi-finals of the Australian Open 2025 will hope for another long run.

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