WTA/ATP: New territory for Anisimova

They combined for 53 winners for the night, but it was Anisimova who came out on top, defeating the 2017 Roland-Garros champion 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 21 minutes.

It was the American’s first triumph at the WTA 1000 level and it earned her the third title of her career.

At 41 in the world, Anisimova became the lowest-ranked champion in tournament history, and the first American to win in Doha since Monica Seles hoisted the trophy in 2002.

The 23-year-old now owns three WTA titles and has made her top-20 debut this week, rising to a career-high 18 in the world.

“This week has been amazing. To be able to lift the trophy here for my first WTA 1000 is super special,” said Anisimova, who defeated five top-30 players en route to the final, before besting Ostapenko.

Anisimova famously reached the Roland-Garros semi-finals in 2019, when she was just 17 years old. With a punishing backhand and raw firepower, she was tipped for stardom from a young age.

In May 2023, the American announced she would be taking an indefinite break from tennis, citing burnout and mental health concerns.

She returned to action at the start of last season, ranked 373 in the world, and has clawed her way back up the charts, thanks to her runner-up showing at the WTA 1000 in Canada, and now her success in Qatar.

“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,” said Anisimova.

“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.”

Ostapenko was contesting her third WTA 1000 final, and second in Qatar, having also placed runner-up in 2016. While her quest for a maiden title at this level continues, the Latvian can take many positives from her week in Doha, where she claimed a fifth victory from five meetings with Iga Swiatek.

Swiatek was gunning for a fourth consecutive Doha crown but saw her 15-match winning streak at the event come to an end against Ostapenko in the semi-finals.

“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,” said Ostapenko.

Fonseca wows in Buenos Aires

They grow up so fast, don’t they?

Less than two months ago, Joao Fonseca clinched the Next Gen ATP Finals title in Jeddah, announcing his arrival to the main stage.

On Sunday in Buenos Aires, the 18-year-old Brazilian became the youngest South American to win a title in the ATP Tour era (since 1990) with a 6-4, 7-6(1) victory over home favourite Francisco Cerundolo.

“For me this, that I’m living, is just unbelievable. My real dream is to play tennis. Of course I want to be No.1, of course I want to win Slams, titles, but my dream is just to play tennis and I’m living it,” said Fonseca.

This time last year, Fonseca was ranked 655 in the world. This week, he is enjoying a career-high ranking of 68, thanks to a tremendous start to his 2025 campaign, which includes a Challenger title in Canberra, an upset of ninth-seeded Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open, and now an ATP trophy in Argentina.

His fast rise has caught the eyes of many, including former world No.1 Andy Murray, who tweeted about the Brazilian teenager earlier in the week.

“Can’t wait for the first Fonseca vs Alcaraz match,” wrote the Scot.

We can’t wait either!

Big weeks for Humbert and Kecmanovic

French No.2 seed Ugo Humbert successfully defended his title in Marseille, defeating Hamad Medjedovic 7-6(4), 6-4 to improve his record at the indoor hard-court tournament to 13-2.

Adding a seventh career title to his resume, Humbert has now won 18 of his last 19 indoor matches on home soil.

“I’m so proud of it, [it’s] maybe the best [title] because I was a little bit stressed at the beginning of the tournament. With a title to defend, it was not easy to manage, but I’m super proud of it,” said Humbert.

Across the Atlantic in Delray Beach, Miomir Kecmanovic saved two match points on his way to a 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

The 25-year-old Serb rallied back from 2-5 down in the decider to secure his second ATP title and first on hard courts.

Kecmanovic has now tied Alex de Minaur for the most match-wins on tour this season, with 11.

“It's an unbelievable week,” said Kecmanovic, who hadn’t won a title since September 2020.

“I've worked so hard, I've done everything I could right. It didn't happen for a long time, but I kept believing and I'm so happy to finally win another title.”