Sensational Swiatek wins Golden Falcon Trophy in Qatar

Polish tennis sensation Iga Swiatek Friday crushed Anett Kontaveit of Estonia in straight sets to win the Qatar TotalEnergies Open title for the first time. Swiatek, the 2020 French Open champion, Friday won 6-2, 6-0 in a clinical performance that was loudly cheered by a big group of Polish fans present at the Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex. Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) president Nasser al-Khelaifi presented the Golden Falcon Trophy to Swiatek at the presentation ceremony.The straight-set demolition of Kontaveit, seeded fourth in Doha, was completed in just 66 minutes with the second set getting over in less than half an hour. It was Swiatek’s second WTA 1000 final triumph following her title win over Karolina Pliskova at Rome last year. Friday’s win was Swiatek’s 10th in a row this year. The Polish tennis star, winner of the 2020 French Open, has now won 4 career titles. Seeded seven for the premier event in Doha, Swiatek has now won two titles on hardcourts after her win in Adelaide last year and the only Pole to reach the final in the Qatari capital. A winner over top seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the quarter-finals, Swiatek fired five aces in her convincing win Friday. Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates with her trophy “It's been a pretty few intense months but I'm pretty happy that today I could play the way I did today because before the match, I got stressed as it seemed impossible to beat her considering the last tournaments that she has played,” Swiatek said Friday while praising her rival.“You're constantly improving, you're playing really solid. I'm pretty happy that we had this match. Though the score wasn't even, all the points were even as we were fighting. You were fighting because you are a fighter and congrats for all the wins you had here,” she added. “I want to thank Tournament Director Saad Al Mohannadi, the WTA and all those who make this tournament possible. It's been great. I love it here. This is my second time. I'm always going to remember the memories of this week. “The support that I got here was amazing and it's even though I'm on tour for like three years now, it's still surprising to me how many Polish people came here,” she said with a smile.“I want to thank my team. I know how much work they've put to get me in shape and how much they sacrifice sometimes. I really appreciate that. Without them, I wouldn't be in that place,” the Doha winner said. Swiatek also spoke about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “And lastly, I want to show my support for the people who are suffering in Ukraine. It's really hard to say. Seeing those images is really emotional for me,” Swiatek said. “I wouldn't even imagine stuff like that happening to the country next to me. I hope everybody at the end is going to be safe. I hope that even though this is like a big event looking at all the problems that we have in the world, the (world of) sport is going to connect. And even though there are many things dividing us, (sport) is going to connect us and it's going to bring us joy. So thank you all for coming tonight, and I hope the Ukrainian people are going to be well,” she said.Kontaveit arrived for the Doha title clash having reached more finals and won more matches than any other player on the Tour since 2021. Playing her ninth final during this period, Kontaveit – despite having won a total of 61 matches in the last 14 months – Friday couldn’t halt Swiatek’s charge in chilly conditions. After being tied at 1-all, Swiatek broke Kontaveit in the third game as the Estonian went long on her returns on three occasions. Kontaveit hit back and broke Swiatek in the next game to draw level at 2-all but then faltered again by losing serve in game five. A long return and an unforced error from Kontaveit at deuce allowed Swiatek to manage a decisive service break in game seven (5-2). Swiatek was quick to convert the first set point in her favour to take the set at 6-2. Then there was no coming back for Kontaveit.With momentum on her side, Swiatek switched gears with remarkable ease breaking her opponent three times in the second set to close the match in a little over an hour’s time. Swiatek won 10 successive games after losing the service in game four of the first set. Kontaveit was quick to applaud the victory in her speech after the final.“I want to congratulate Iga. You are fantastic. You just keep getting better and congratulations to you and your team on a fantastic week,” Kontaveit said at the presentation ceremony Friday. “Of course not the result I wanted, but yeah, definitely a very good week for me,” the 26-year-old Estonian said. “I am also very happy with the way my game is improving. And that's of course, thanks to my team and everyone who has been supporting me. “I want to say thank you to the organizers for making this fantastic event happen including everybody involved like the sponsors and the WTA. I am just very grateful to be playing tennis at this level and just happy to be here,” she added.BOX ITEM Iga Swiatek’s last 4 finals: 2020 Roland Garros: 6-4 6-1, Kenin 2021 Adelaide: 6-2 6-2, Belinda Bencic 2021 Rome: 6-0 6-0, Karolina Pliskova 2022 Doha: 6-2, 6-0 Anett Kontaveit    YEAR CHAMPION RUNNER-UP SCORE 2022 [7] Swiatek (POL #8) [7 ] Konatveit (EST #7) 6-2 6-02021 [4] Kvitova (CZE #10) Muguruza (ESP #16) 6-2 6-1 2020 [9] Sabalenka (BLR #13) [8] Kvitova (CZE #11) 6-3 6-3 2019 Mertens (BEL #21) [1] Halep (ROU #3) 3-6 6-4 6-32018 [16] Kvitova (CZE #21) [4] Muguruza (ESP #4) 3-6 6-3 6-4 2017 [2] Ka.Pliskova (CZE #3) Wozniacki (DEN #18) 6-3 6-4 2016 [8] Suárez Navarro (ESP #11) Ostapenko (LAT #88) 1-6 6-4 6-4 2015 Safarova (CZE #15) Azarenka (BLR #48) 6-4 6-3 2014 [7] Halep (ROU #10) [6] Kerber (GER #9) 6-2 6-3 2013 [1] Azarenka (BLR #1) [2] S.Williams (USA #2) 7-6(6) 2-6 6-3 2012 [1] Azarenka (BLR #1) [3] Stosur (AUS #5) 6-1 6-2