Preview WTA Qatar Open 2026 Final | Victoria Mboko and Karolina Muchova battle for first WTA 1000 crown of the season

The moment of the WTA 1000 Qatar Open final has arrived with two names who did not begin among the favourites, but who more than deserve to enter the dispute for the title. The 19-year-old Victoria Mboko will seek her second WTA 1000 title against the experienced Karolina Muchova – the player with the best win rate among those who have not achieved a title of this category.

An interesting duel between two who took advantage of the massive early exit of big names – such as Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula or Madison Keys – in addition to the several surprises we saw in Doha, including early eliminations of players such as Jasmine Paolini, Iga Swiatek or the defending champion Amanda Anisimova.

Muchova will seek her first WTA 1000 title and Mboko will look for the second of her career. Two players who are not afraid to play long points and who have shown patience in the construction of rallies; it could be an especially interesting duel between two styles – and two stories – in search of glory in the first WTA 1000 of the season.

The former world No. 8 is a name of respect within the Tour, owner of exceptional talent and a style of play that always offers a spectacle, arguably one of the players with the most variety in her game – thanks to a solid baseline footwork, precision to play slices and drop shots constantly, a consistent serve and one of the best net games on the Tour.

However, Muchova has fallen short in terms of titles: only one title, back in the 2019 Korea Open, and five lost finals – including the final of French Open 2023 and two WTA 1000 finals. The Czech defeated renowned rivals this week such as Anna Kalinskaya and Maria Sakkari – although she has not yet faced any top-25 opponent this week.

In any case, her semifinal victory against the former world No. 3 Sakkari – coming back from a set down and a break behind – was a display of maintaining composure in difficult moments, something her vast experience in final stages has helped her to deal with. "I tried to play a little more aggressive, I would say," Muchova said in her on-court interview. "I tried to change it up more. I wanted to go more for the returns, go for more lines. I think that it paid off because then we didn't play such long rallies, which I think she's striving at, and I was able to get some faster points on my side."

The 29-year-old player will have an opportunity in her third WTA 1000 final, in which experience will be on her side. The Czech has dealt with injuries throughout her career, but she has shown that when she is physically fit she can be a true challenge for anyone and a worthy contender for the big titles.

Against Mboko she expects a tough battle, facing the teen sensation of the Tour, who already arrives with a WTA 1000 title in her résumé. "I watch her here and she's playing incredible. I know her since last year, probably all of us, she has this boom. I think she's an incredible, strong athlete. So it's for sure going to be a very tough battle."

A year ago few would have expected the rapid explosion of Victoria Mboko, who was still playing ITF tournaments and by this time had not even entered the top-200. One year later, she has already secured her place in the top-10. The Canadian settles into her second WTA 1000 final, having made a simply remarkable run in Doha, in which she defeated two top-10 rivals: first it was Mirra Andreeva in the fourth round – taking revenge for the Adelaide final of a few weeks ago – and then Elena Rybakina, world No. 3 and recent champion of the Australian Open.

Already in the semifinals she encountered the two-time Doha runner-up Jelena Ostapenko, one of the players who feels most comfortable with the conditions in Doha, ideal to dominate with her explosive forehand. However, Mboko was not intimidated and dismissed Ostapenko in straight sets, once again showcasing her great weapons: an imposing serve and her consistency from the baseline – especially to create angle changes and the aggressiveness of her backhand.

The Canadian can change rhythms very quickly and looks comfortable when facing big hitters – such as Rybakina and Ostapenko. At 19 years old and with a bright future ahead, not even Mboko herself fully believes that success has arrived so early. "It's kind of crazy," Mboko said after defeating 'Penko'. "I never expected something to happen so fast for me. I just have been taking it day by day, tournament by tournament. Every tournament I enter, I want to do well. I don't really hold that much expectation of myself."

“It's not like when I enter a tournament I'm going to say I'm going to win it, but you always want to try your best,” added the teenager. "I think this came relatively fast, but it's a nice feeling. It's nice to see that, to have that milestone, to see that number. So, yeah, I'm pretty happy with that."