Swiatek Bids for Historic Four-Peat

Iga Swiatek has not misplaced a match in Doha since 2020, when she was simply an adolescent with no single main title to her identify. Since falling to Svetlana Kuznetsova within the spherical of 32 that 12 months, Swiatek has finished nothing however win, win and win. The Pole has reeled off three consecutive titles and 12 consecutive matches in Qatar, and he or she’ll bid to change into the primary girl to win 4 consecutive titles on the identical occasion since Caroline Wozniacki in New Haven from 2008 to 2011.

The three-time champion may meet Elena Rybakina, her opponent in final 12 months’s last, as quickly because 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, within the second spherical.

Swiatek, Doha last historical past:

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 final 12 months that Swiatek went with no title.

And he or she owns a 7-2 lifetime document in Doha. Sabalenk, who misplaced to Swiatek in straight units in her final match at Doha in 2022, has not been again to the match since.

Prime-seeded Sabalenka, who misplaced to Madison Keys within the Australian Open last, will face both Emma Raducanu or Ekaterina Alexandrova within the first spherical.

No.1 Not in Play

On condition that Swiatek is defending 1000 factors from final 12 months, and Sabalenka isn’t defending any factors, the No.1 rating will keep in Sabalenka’s arms after the match, no matter end result.

Projected Quarterfinals, if Seeds Maintain

[1] Sabalenka vs Pegula [6]

[3] Gauff vs Navarro [8]

[7] Zheng vs Paolini [4]

[2] Swiatek vs Rybakina [5]