Karolina Muchova is the Doha champion! The Czech star defeated Canada’s Victoria Mboko 6-4 7-5 in the Qatar TotalEnergies Open final, snapping a seven-year title drought with a love hold on Valentine’s Day.
Wearing the Adidas Melbourne Wow Pro Dress, No. 14 seed Muchova captured the second title of her career and her first at WTA 1000 level. Her run to the Doha crown featured wins over Jaqueline Cristian, Tereza Valentova, former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova, Anna Kalinskaya, Maria Sakkari, and, in the final, Mboko. Muchova’s only previous title came in Seoul in 2019.
Facing 19-year-old Mboko, who was chasing her second WTA 1000 title, Muchova broke to lead 4-3. After consolidating the break, she earned a set point on Mboko’s serve, but the Canadian fended it off. The resistance was brief, however, as Muchova closed out the opening set in the very next game.
The 2023 Roland Garros runner-up put pressure on Mboko with three break points at 2-2 in the second set. Mboko, however, responded with flair, fending them off and looking in control when she recorded her first break of the match for a 4-2 lead. But the advantage was short-lived. Muchova immediately struck back, breaking straight away and holding at love to even the score at 4-4.
From there, the match swung decisively in Muchova’s favor. She broke Mboko at 6-5, gaining the perfect opportunity to serve for the championship. With nerves of steel, Muchova closed out the match, claiming the Doha title with a love hold.
