Victoria Mboko’s pursuit of a second WTA 1000 title at the Qatar Open came to an end in the final.
Mboko was beaten by Karolina Muchova in the championship match in Doha, losing in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5.
The Canadian had knocked out fifth seed Mirra Andreeva as well as Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina earlier on in the tournament.
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Muchova claimed her first WTA title since winning the Korea Open in 2019, and is now set to move from 19th to 11th in the world rankings.
With her victory over the 19-year-old at the Qatar Open, the Czech star also set an all-time record.
Karolina Muchova makes history at the Qatar Open
Muchova is now the oldest player to win her first Qatar Open title since the inception of the tournament back in 2001, according to Opta Ace, aged 29.
Prior to her title run, Muchova had recorded three campaigns at the Qatar Open over the years.
She made her Doha debut in 2019, where she came through qualifying before bowing out in the quarterfinals.
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Muchova lost in the second round in both 2020 and 2023, but has now finally got her hands on the WTA 1000 crown; her first at the level.
Karolina Muchova’s draw at the Dubai Tennis Championships
After a successful trip to Doha, Muchova will now make her way to the UAE for the Dubai Tennis Championships; the second WTA 1000 event of the year.
In the first round in Dubai, Muchova will take on Moyuka Uchijima, whom she has never faced before on the tour.
Should she advance, Muchova could face Emma Raducanu in the second round and Rybakina in the round of 16.
Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini are both inside Muchova’s half of the draw, in what is a star-studded lineup.
Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek will not feature in Dubai, with the two having withdrawn earlier this month.
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