Swiatek Eyes Fourth Consecutive Doha Crown as WTA 1000 Season Begins
The first WTA 1000 event of 2025 is set to kick off in Doha tomorrow, with all Top-10 players in action—except for 2025 Australian Open finalist Madison Keys, who is sidelined with a leg injury and will also miss Dubai.
The Big Storyline: Swiatek Goes for Four
Iga Swiatek has been unstoppable in Doha since 2021. The Polish superstar has strung together three consecutive titles and 12 straight wins, a streak that dates back to her 2020 loss to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the round of 32. Now, she aims to become the first woman to win four straight titles at a single event since Caroline Wozniacki’s run in New Haven (2008-2011).
Swiatek could face Elena Rybakina in a blockbuster quarterfinal rematch of last year’s final, where the Pole ended Rybakina’s eight-match win streak with a tight 7-6(8), 6-2 victory.
Swiatek’s Doha Finals History:
- 2022: d. Anett Kontaveit, 6-2, 6-0
- 2023: d. Jessica Pegula, 6-3, 6-0
- 2024: d. Elena Rybakina, 7-6(8), 6-2
Her 2025 campaign begins against Maria Sakkari in the second round, a formidable test as she seeks a historic fourth straight Doha title.
Sabalenka: The Key Challenger
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka returns to Doha for the first time since 2022. The Belarusian was the last player to win the title before Swiatek’s reign, claiming the trophy in 2020.
Sabalenka holds a 7-2 record in Doha, but has not competed at the event in recent years. She enters the tournament fresh off her runner-up finish at the Australian Open, where she fell to Madison Keys. The top seed will open against either Emma Raducanu or Ekaterina Alexandrova in the second round.
No.1 Ranking Not in Play
Despite the battle for the Doha title, the No.1 ranking is safe in Sabalenka’s hands. Swiatek is defending 1000 points from last year, while Sabalenka has none to defend, meaning there will be no changes at the top of the WTA rankings after this event.
Projected Quarterfinal Matchups (If Seeds Hold)
- [1] Aryna Sabalenka vs. [6] Jessica Pegula
- [3] Coco Gauff vs. [8] Emma Navarro
- [7] Qinwen Zheng vs. [4] Jasmine Paolini
- [2] Iga Swiatek vs. [5] Elena Rybakina
The action is set to deliver high-stakes drama as the WTA 1000 season officially begins. Who will come out on top in Doha? Let us know your predictions!
See the full draw here:
Here’s the draw for Doha, the first WTA 1000 of 2025. Who’s your pick for the title? pic.twitter.com/ensGGHFwJR
— TennisNow (@Tennis_Now) February 8, 2025