World No.1 Iga Swiatek cemented her status as the best player on the woman’s tour over the weekend by winning her third successive Qatar Open title in Doha.

Swiatek was playing Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina in the final and was forced to come through a marathon first set before claiming victory 7-6 (10-8) 6-2. She becomes the first woman to win a WTA on three consecutive occasions since Serena Williams won the Miami open from 2013-2015.

Her victory in Doha was Swiatek’s seventh WTA 1000 title. The 22-year-old now has a 1,400 point cushion at the top of the rankings ahead of Aryna Sabalenka.