Amanda Anisimova wns maiden WTA Tour title in Qatar

The title is the American's first since 2022, and the first Doha title for any American woman since Monica Seles in 2002.

Anisimova's victory comes after an injury-ridden early 2024, and just one-and-a-half years after she took a total break, due to 'burnout', to protect her mental health.

"To be able to lift the trophy here for my first WTA 1000 is super special," the American said after the match.

"I wouldn't have been able to do it without my team. I love you guys. Without you this wouldn't have been possible."

"There's been a lot of hard work, a lot of tears, a lot of good moments. I think with tennis you experience it all, but that's also why I love it."

"There have been a lot of challenges the last few weeks and I'm very proud of myself and happy with how I've dealt with them. It's been an incredible week on top of that."

Anisimova started the Qatar Open ranked as world No 41 and will rise to the world No 18 spot, the highest ranking that she has ever obtained.

At the end of 2023, the American was ranked outside of the world's top 350 - due to ending her season in the spring of that year to protect her mental health.

"I've really been struggling with my mental health and burnout since the summer of 2022," Anismova wrote. "It's become unbearable being at tennis tournaments. At this point, my priority is my mental wellbeing and taking a break for some time. I've worked as hard as I could to push through it."

"I will miss being out there, and I appreciate all the continuous support."

The American then returned to the tour in 2024, stunning Paula Badosa at the Australian Open.

After that win, she stated during the on-court interview: "Taking a step away and really being at home. Resetting myself gave me a different perspective going into these tournaments," before going on to say "I really try to be present when I'm here and just enjoy every second that I'm here. I think in the past I was getting too caught up in the past and the future. I think having that is a huge advantage for me now."

Later that year, she returned to the world's top 50 and made her maiden WTA 1000 final - at the Canadian Open.

Anisimova had a meteoric rise to the top of women's tennis, reaching the semi-finals of Roland Garros in 2019 as a 17-year-old, but tragically lost her father and coach Konstantin just a few months later.

At just 23, despite these horrible personal circumstances and experiences, Anisimova still has time to show her qualities as a player for many years to come.

Meanwhile, Ostapenko, who will rise 11 places in the ranking from 37 to 26, stated after the final: "Of course it's not the result that I wanted today but I really hope I will come back stronger and I hope that one day I will lift this trophy."

The Latvian - who had destroyed Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals - had previously reached the final in Doha back in 2016.

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