Tennis: Poland’s Świątek extends lead as WTA world No. 1

Poland's Iga Świątek has extended her lead at the top of the Women's Tennis Association's (WTA) world rankings after winning her first title of the season.

Iga Świątek

EPA/LUKAS KABON

Świątek on Saturday beat Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, 7-6, 6-2, to win the Qatar Open tournament in Doha for the third consecutive time, claiming her 18th career singles title.

1 - Iga Swiatek is the first player to win a WTA event 3 years in a row since Serena Williams, who won the Miami Open on three consecutive occasions between 2013 and 2015. Unstoppable. #QatarTotalEnergiesOpen | @WTA_insider @WTA pic.twitter.com/9unLuCKE7L

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) February 17, 2024

Golden Falcon 🤝 @iga_swiatek#QatarTotalEnergiesOpen pic.twitter.com/iBJthYxsZw

— wta (@WTA) February 17, 2024

The first player to win the same Hologic WTA Tour event 3 years in a row since Serena Williams in 2015 ✌️☝️

Tap to watch @iga_swiatek's BEST points from her third championship run in Doha on our YouTube channel! 🎥👇

— wta (@WTA) February 18, 2024

The 22-year-old Pole in November regained her spot at the top of the world rankings in women's tennis after winning the season-ending WTA Finals tournament in Mexico.

The Polish star, coached by countryman Tomasz Wiktorowski, now leads the WTA rankings with 10,300 points, ahead of Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, with 8,905 points, and American Coco Gauff, with 7,110.

Iga Świątek zbiera owoce triumfu w Dosze. Polka na szczycie kolejnego zestawienia 🔝https://t.co/gBr8iVvflr

— Sport PR (@sportradiopl) February 18, 2024

Świątek was on Tuesday set to take on American Sloane Stephens in the second round of the Dubai Open outdoor hard-court event in the United Arab Emirates.

A special message from the World No1 @iga_swiatek as she prepares for her maiden Dubai title this week 🙌🙌#DDFTennis @wta pic.twitter.com/pAYqsJnmiO

— Dubai Tennis Champs (@DDFTennis) February 19, 2024

(gs)

Source: PAP