Iga Swiatek beats Elena Rybakina to win third title in Doha

World number one Iga Swiatek claimed the Qatar Open title for the third year in a row with a straight-set victory over Elena Rybakina.

Poland’s Swiatek trailed by a double break in the first set but regrouped to beat Kazakhstan’s Rybakina 7-6 (10-8) 6-2 in Doha.

Swiatek lost her three matches against Rybakina in 2023.

It is four-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek’s first WTA title of the year and her 18th overall.

She is the first player to win a WTA singles title three times in a row since American Serena Williams claimed the Miami Open from 2013 to 2015.