Iga Swiatek shows major respect for Jessica Pegula: It's great what you represent

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Iga Swiatek showed major respect for Jessica Pegula after the Doha final as she praised the American's consistency and noted "it is great" what the 28-year-old represents as a player. Swiatek, who was the top-seeded player in Doha, ousted second-seeded Pegula 6-3 6-0 to successfully defend her Doha title.

Even though Swiatek dominated Pegula in the Doha final, the Pole took a moment to acknowledge the quality of the American. "I'm pretty happy with my performance but I want to congratulate Jessica for singles, for doubles, for everything.

You're a really consistent player, everything you represent, it's really great," Swiatek said after the final, per Tennis Majors.

"I could stay focused from the beginning to the end of the matches.

"I'm pretty happy with my performance but I want to congratulate Jessica for singles, for doubles, for everything.

You're a really consistent player...everything you represent, it's really great." — Tennis Majors (@Tennis_Majors) February 18, 2023

Swiatek makes amends for the United Cup loss against Pegula

Swiatek kicked off her 2023 season at the inaugural United Cup, where she won her first three matches before Pegula handed her a 6-2 6-2 loss.

After that loss to Pegula, Swiatek was seen crying on the Team Poland bench. In her post-match presser, Swiatek admitted that she felt "helpless" in their United Cup match “Because I just knew that I felt kind of helpless today, because physically and mentally I wasn’t able to kind of show up even, and problem-solve.

So it’s always hard when you lose, especially when you’re playing for the team and your country. So I was just sad. But it’s not the first time I cried after a lost match. Nothing special," Swiatek said at the United Cup.

In the Doha final, Swiatek and Pegula were playing for the first time since the United Cup. Swiatek earned the first break in the second game but Pegula broke back in the third game. Swiatek broke Pegula again in the sixth game but the American again broke back the Pole in the seventh game to cut the deficit to 4-3.

After blowing her second break of the match, Swiatek raised her game to a completely new level as she won the next eight games to seal the win in impressive style.