Amanda Anisimova downs Jelena Ostapenko in Qatar Open final to clinch her biggest title

NEW DELHI: Amanda Anisimova emerged victorious at the Qatar Open on Saturday, securing her third career title and first since 2022. The American player defeated former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in a final that was disrupted twice by rain showers, with the final score standing at 6-4, 6-3.
After the second rain delay, Anisimova displayed remarkable focus and determination, winning the last three games to become the first American to claim the Doha title since Monica Seles in 2002.
The match was a test of mental fortitude, as Anisimova acknowledged the challenging conditions, stating, "It was actually quite stressful, especially with the rain, at 3-3. I was trying to stay focused. There's not much that either of us could do withthe conditions. But I think that game was super important, and I'm happy that it went my way."
Ranked 41st in the world, Anisimova's triumph in Doha has brought her closer to a potential top 20 debut, a testament to her hard work and dedication to the sport.
On the other hand, Jelena Ostapenko, ranked 37th and hailing from Latvia, faced her 17th career final but fell short of securing her ninth singles title. Her performance was hindered by 10 double faults, which proved costly in the high-stakes encounter.