Top-ranked Swiatek Wins her 3rd Straight Qatar Open

Iga Swiatek (R) of Poland shakes hands with Elena Rybakina of Kazakistan after winning the Women's singles final of the Qatar Open tennis tournament in Doha, Qatar, 17 February 2024.  EPA/NOUSHAD THEKKAYIL
Iga Swiatek (R) of Poland shakes hands with Elena Rybakina of Kazakistan after winning the Women's singles final of the Qatar Open tennis tournament in Doha, Qatar, 17 February 2024. EPA/NOUSHAD THEKKAYIL
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Top-ranked Swiatek Wins her 3rd Straight Qatar Open

Iga Swiatek (R) of Poland shakes hands with Elena Rybakina of Kazakistan after winning the Women's singles final of the Qatar Open tennis tournament in Doha, Qatar, 17 February 2024.  EPA/NOUSHAD THEKKAYIL
Iga Swiatek (R) of Poland shakes hands with Elena Rybakina of Kazakistan after winning the Women's singles final of the Qatar Open tennis tournament in Doha, Qatar, 17 February 2024. EPA/NOUSHAD THEKKAYIL

No. 1-ranked Iga Swiatek won the Qatar Open for a third straight year on Saturday.
Swiatek defeated No. 4 Elena Rybakina 7-6 (8), 6-2 in the final.
Rybakina led 4-1 but cut her leg in her serving motion and needed medical attention. Swiatek rallied to 4-4. Rybakina broke again for 6-5 and a chance to serve out the set but Swiatek broke back.
In the tiebreaker, the defending champion missed three set points as the score reached 8-8. But then Swiatek hit a backhand winner and snatched the set with a backhand passing shot.
Swiatek's 18th career singles title was her first of the year.
Serena Williams was the last woman to win a WTA event three successive times, in 2015 at the Miami Open.



Arsenal Closes the Gap on Liverpool after 1-0 Win against Chelsea in Premier League

Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 16, 2025 Arsenal's Mikel Merino scores their first goal past Chelsea's Robert Sanchez. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 16, 2025 Arsenal's Mikel Merino scores their first goal past Chelsea's Robert Sanchez. (Reuters)
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Arsenal Closes the Gap on Liverpool after 1-0 Win against Chelsea in Premier League

Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 16, 2025 Arsenal's Mikel Merino scores their first goal past Chelsea's Robert Sanchez. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 16, 2025 Arsenal's Mikel Merino scores their first goal past Chelsea's Robert Sanchez. (Reuters)

Mikel Merino led Arsenal to a 1-0 win against Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.

Merino's first-half header settled the London derby at the Emirates Stadium and saw second-placed Arsenal move within 12 points of leader Liverpool.

In another all-London clash, Fulham beat Tottenham 2-0.

Arsenal's title hopes have faded in recent weeks, but it closed the gap on Liverpool, which was playing Newcastle in the English League Cup final later in the day.

Merino rose in the 20th minute to flick Martin Odegaard's near post corner beyond Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. It was enough to secure a first league win for Mikel Arteta's team since February 15.

Defeat for fourth-placed Chelsea means it missed the chance to extend its one-point lead over Manchester City in fifth and boost its chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season.

Arsenal, on 58 points, is 10 clear of four time defending champion City.

Spurs blow

Another setback for Tottenham is likely to increase the pressure on coach Ange Postecoglou heading into the international break.

Spurs, in 14th, have only won one of their last five in all competitions and this was a 15th league defeat of the season.

Rodrigo Muniz gave Fulham the lead in the 78th at Craven Cottage and Ryan Sessegnon doubled the home team's lead 10 minutes later.

Fulham is eighth and four points behind Chelsea in the race for a Champions League place.