Iga Swiatek claims Qatar Open title, dedicates win to ‘suffering Ukraine’
Poland’s Iga Swiatek swept aside Anett Kontaveit in the Qatar Open final on Saturday and dedicated her victory to “the people who are suffering in Ukraine”.
🇵🇱 @iga_swiatek has played in two career WTA 1000 finals so far.
She has only dropped two games in them. Combined.#QatarTennis pic.twitter.com/b2YF4iwnZF
— wta (@WTA) February 26, 2022
Former French Open champion Swiatek, seeded seven, needed just over an hour to see off the fourth-seeded Estonian.
Time for a ✨cover photo refresh✨
Which one of these Iga 📸 shall we pick?! pic.twitter.com/Z52h1ctuKl
— wta (@WTA) February 26, 2022
“I want to show my support to all the people who are suffering in Ukraine,” the 20-year-old Swiatek told the crowd after capturing her fourth career title.
Let's hear it for your 2022 #QatarTennis champion…
🇵🇱 @iga_swiatek 🏆 pic.twitter.com/kFbpSWFIo8
— wta (@WTA) February 26, 2022
“Seeing those images is really emotional for me. I wouldn’t even imagine stuff happening like that in the country next to me.”
Her remarks came a day after Russian men’s star Andrey Rublev, playing in neighbouring Dubai, marked his semi-final win by signing a camera lens on court with the message, “No war please”, clearly stating his feelings about his nation’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev signs 'no war please' on a camera following his win at the Dubai Tennis Championships 💙💛 pic.twitter.com/zVUbT89vIx
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 26, 2022
Swiatek beat three top 10 players on her way to the Qatar title.
The 2020 French Open champion now has two 1000-level titles after winning in Rome last year, where she crushed Karolina Pliskova 6-0, 6-0 in the final.
A SCINTILLATING display for a fourth career WTA singles title 💫
How @iga_swiatek got the job done in Doha ⤵️
— wta (@WTA) February 26, 2022