Iga Swiatek shares secret to big Doha success amid chance to pull off historic feat
Iga Swiatek has attributed her success at the Doha tournament not to perfection but to her ability to win regardless of circumstances. This week, the 23-year-old finds herself on the brink of making tennis history, with the chance to become only the second player this century to achieve a four-peat at the Qatar event.
Swiatek kicked off her campaign with a commanding victory over Maria Sakkari, winning 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the Qatar Open. Her impressive record in Doha now stands at 14 wins against just one loss, with her sole defeat coming during her debut in 2020 against Svetlana Kuznetsova. Since that setback, Swiatek has dropped only one set throughout the tournament.
Reflecting on her success, the five-time Grand Slam champion remarked, “Honestly, it’s hard to say. From what I remember, it’s not like I’ve been playing flawlessly, so it’s not like these tournaments were perfect, but at some point, I always found some solution.” She acknowledged the unique challenges posed by the conditions in Doha and emphasized her commitment to staying focused on her performance.
“Every year is different, and there’s always a new story to tell, making it difficult to compare and pinpoint exactly what works,” Swiatek added.
Despite her fondness for Doha as a successful venue, the world No. 2 is cautious not to underestimate the challenge ahead. “I’m already kind of focusing on the next one, not really coming back to what happened in the last years,” she stated.
In the next round, Swiatek is set to face Linda Noskova, who previously caused an upset by defeating her in the third round of the Australian Open last year. However, with her strong track record, Swiatek remains a considerable favorite as she prepares for this encounter.
