Iga Swiatek Claims Dubai Championships Title with Straight-Sets Victory Over Rybakina

Iga Swiatek continued her imperious form in 2026 by claiming the Dubai Championships title with a commanding 6-3, 6-4 victory over Elena Rybakina in Mondays final. The world No. 1 from Poland extended her winning streak to 15 matches and captured her second WTA 500 title of the young season, further cementing her position as the dominant force in womens tennis.

The match showcased Swiateeks complete game as she controlled proceedings from the baseline while mixing in perfectly timed aggressive shots. Despite Rybakinas powerful serve and groundstrokes, the defending champion was never truly threatened, breaking the Kazakhs serve four times while dropping her own just once throughout the encounter.

Swiatek got off to the perfect start, breaking Rybakina in the very first game of the match with a series of precise groundstrokes that pushed her opponent wide. The early break seemed to settle any nerves for the top seed, who then held serve comfortably to establish a 2-0 lead that she would never relinquish.

Rybakina, who was bidding for her first title since Wimbledon 2023, showed flashes of the form that took her to the Wimbledon crown, particularly with her booming forehand winners. However, she struggled to find consistency on her second serve, winning just 48% of those points compared to Swiateeks dominant 71%. The stat line highlighted the difference between the two players approaches under pressure.

The second set followed a similar pattern, with Swiatek breaking early and then weathering a brief fightback from Rybakina. The Kazakh managed to level at 3-3 with some aggressive net play, but Swiatek immediately responded by breaking back in the next game with a stunning cross-court forehand winner that left the crowd gasping.

Serving for the title at 5-4, Swiatek showed the composure that has made her the most successful player on the WTA Tour over the past three years. She saved two break points with trademark defensive scrambling before sealing victory with an ace down the T, her eighth of the match.

With this victory, Swiatek improves to 12-0 in WTA finals since the start of 2024 and extends her lead at the top of the WTA Rankings. The 24-year-old will now turn her attention to the upcoming hardcourt swing, where she will be the overwhelming favorite at Indian Wells and Miami. Her next tournament appearance will be at the Indian Wells Masters, where she will be looking to defend her title from 2025.