Coming straight from her fourth final of the season in Dubai, Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina won her first meeting with Sorana Cirstea 3-6 6-3 6-1 in the first round of the Qatar Total Open in Doha to increase her tour-leading 2020 win-loss record to 20-4.
On her first visit to Doha, the 14th-seeded Rybakina didn’t have much time to get accustomed to the new environment and wildcard Cirstea twice went a break up in the opening set before sealing it with the third break. Playing on a career high ranking of No.