Tennis

Amanda Anisimova Vying To Become First American Singles Champion In Doha Since 2002

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By
wendioliveros
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wendioliveros Sports Editor

Wendi Oliveros is a diehard tennis fan that is known to set her clock at ridiculous hours to watch live action especially during the Australian Open. She is known for indulging in strawberries and cream during Wimbledon and has watched the US Open live several times.

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Sports Editor

Published14 Feb 2025

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Amanda Anisimova

American Amanda Anisimova, 23, defeated the red-hot Ekaterina Alexandrova, who ousted World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in an earlier round, in straight sets in the 2025 Qatar TotalEnergies Open semifinals.

Anisimova will face Jelena Ostapenko in Saturday’s final.  She will try to end a long decades-long drought of American women not winning this acclaimed WTA 1000 tournament.

Monica Seles was the last American woman to win this title in 2002 when Anisimova was just a few months old.  There have been many great American tennis players in the past 23 years, Serena and Venus Williams, to name two, who have not won this singles title.

Amanda Anisimova vs. Jelena Ostapenko Head-to-Head

Amanda Anisimova and Jelena Ostapenko have only played once before.  It was in 2022 in the Round of 32 at Doha.  Ostapenko won the match in three sets, winning the first and third sets, with Anisimova rallying in the second.

Anisimova and Ostapenko are both great players.  Ostapenko, 27, has eight career singles titles including the 2017 French Open championship, and Anisimova has two.

Ostapenko’s recent career successes have been more prevalent in doubles; however, no one can deny that she played great tennis in Doha this week including a straight-set dominating victory over World No. 2 Iga Swiatek.  More impressive than Ostapenko’s tennis has been her recent even-keel temperament on the court.  That has not always been the case.

As for Anisimova, American fans are cheering for her.  Injuries and personal issues have plagued her career, and this would be a huge and much-deserved win for a player who has worked very hard to regain her form and confidence after the setbacks.