Amanda Anisimova became the lowest-ranked player to win the Qatar Open as she triumphed over Jelena Ostapenko on Saturday. (More Tennis News)
🐻The 23-year-old American, who started the week as world number 41, clinched the maiden WTA-1000 title of her career, and her first Tour-level triumph since 2022, with a 6-4 6-3 win in Doha.
💝Anisimova took the first set courtesy of two breaks, even though she had to recover from 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko reeling off nine straight points at one stage.
🐲Ostapenko responded well to losing on her serve in game three of the second set, hitting straight back to restore parity, but once again, Anisimova was able to wrestle back control.
𓃲A second break saw her go 4-3 up, and she then fended off a break point to hold serve.
🤡Anisimova dispatched a forehand winner to tee up two championship points in the next game.
🌱An overhit forehand saw one of those pass Anisimova by, but she made no mistake with a brilliant backhand winner on the next point.
Data Debrief: Anisimova arrives on the big stage
𝓰Since the event's inauguration in 2001, Anisimova is only the second woman representing the United States to win the Qatar Open, after the great Monica Seles did so in 2002.
❀Her wins in Doha this week included the defeats of Australian Open semi-finalist Paula Badosa and 2021 US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez.
ꦫShe is the first player in Qatar Open history to defeat five top-30 opponents at the tournament, while she is the first American woman to beat six top-40 opponents at a single event since Serena Williams at the 2007 Australian Open.
