Amanda Anisimova claimed her maiden WTA 1000 title with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Jelena Ostapenko in a rain-interrupted Qatar Open final on Saturday.
Ranked 41st in the world, Anisimova is the lowest-ranked champion in the tournament’s history and the first American to win in Doha since Monica Seles in 2002.
Ostapenko, fresh from a dominant win over world number two Iga Świątek, was outclassed by Anisimova’s powerful ball-striking and precision.
In the first WTA 1000 final featuring two players outside the top 30, both exchanged heavy baseline shots, but Anisimova proved the more clinical.
The 23-year-old secured the first set in 37 minutes, capitalising on five Ostapenko double faults. She then broke early in the second set, only for Ostapenko to respond before rain halted play at 3-3.
After a 25-minute delay, Anisimova broke serve immediately and maintained her aggressive approach to seal victory in one hour and 21 minutes.