Amanda Anisimova secured her maiden WTA 1000 championship by defeating Jelena Ostapenko 6-4 6-3 in the Qatar Open final on Saturday, propelling her into the top 20 for the first time in her career.
Ranked at 41 globally, Anisimova made history as the least ranked player to claim victory, overcoming six top-40 opponents to clinch her third singles title. Having plummeted to 359 in 2023 due to burnout and mental health struggles, the 23-year-old has staged an impressive resurgence, poised to ascend to the 18th spot in the rankings. Anisimova joins Monica Seles as only the second American to triumph in this event, while Ostapenko has now finished as runner-up in Doha for a second time, having previously lost in the 2016 final. Reflecting on her journey, Anisimova remarked, “There’s been a lot of hard work, tears, and cherished moments. Tennis encompasses a myriad of experiences, but that’s precisely why I cherish it. Despite numerous recent challenges, I take immense pride in my resilience and how I’ve navigated through them.”
Following a brief interruption due to rain during the initial set, Anisimova managed to break first, taking a 3-2 lead. However, this only seemed to motivate Ostapenko, who then won nine consecutive points to go ahead 4-3.
Despite Ostapenko’s comeback, Anisimova reclaimed her advantage by utilizing her backhand effectively, breaking Ostapenko once more before securing the set. This marked the first time Ostapenko had dropped a set in the tournament.
In the second set, Ostapenko missed an opportunity to lead 2-0 as she failed to convert break points. Expressing her frustration towards her team, Anisimova promptly broke early to take a 2-1 lead, leaving Ostapenko visibly upset during the changeover.
Although Ostapenko rallied and won the next seven points after asking a team member to leave her box, she struggled to maintain her momentum following a 25-minute rain delay. Anisimova capitalised on this, advancing to a 5-3 lead.
As Ostapenko served to stay in the match, Anisimova held two championship points. She clinched the title on her second with a powerful backhand, collapsing to the court in disbelief and holding her face in astonishment.
