Iga Swiatek’s love affair with Doha shows no signs of slowing down. The Polish superstar kicked off her 2026 Qatar Open campaign in commanding fashion, dismantling Indonesia’s Janice Tjen 6-0, 6-3 to book her place in the third round. From the very first ball, Swiatek looked locked in, barely putting a foot wrong as she cruised past an opponent who has quietly been making waves on the WTA Tour.

Speaking to the crowd after her emphatic win, Swiatek couldn’t hide her delight at being back on Qatari soil. “I’m super happy. Especially, that I’m back here. I really love playing here, guys. Thank you for coming and cheering for us from our first matches,” she said, soaking in the applause. The six-time Grand Slam champion also admitted she had to make tactical adjustments against the Indonesian, whose game brought back memories of a familiar rival. 

“Today I needed to adjust to a different rhythm. I felt like her choices are like Ash Barty’s. It was a nice flashback,” Swiatek added. The Pole had faced Barty twice in her career, and she had lost both of those matches. Thankfully for Iga Swiatek, Tjen didn’t cause much trouble for her in this match.

However, that comparison alone speaks volumes. Ash Barty, a former world No. 1 and multiple Grand Slam winner, was known for her variety, slice backhand, and smart point construction - a combination that troubled even the very best on tour. For Swiatek to see shades of Barty in Tjen’s game underlines just how much the 23-year-old has evolved.

Janice Tjen (born 6 May 2002) has steadily climbed the rankings to become one of Southeast Asia’s brightest tennis hopes. She reached a career-high singles ranking of World No. 46 and a doubles ranking of No. 57 on February 9, 2026. Currently Indonesia’s No. 1 singles player, Tjen turned pro in 2018 and hasn’t looked back since.

The 23-year-old has already captured one WTA singles title and three doubles crowns. Her breakthrough moment came at the 2025 Chennai Open, where she became the first Indonesian woman since Angelique Widjaja to lift a WTA main-tour singles trophy - a historic achievement that firmly placed her on the global tennis map.

Interestingly, Iga Swiatek isn’t the only one who has noticed the parallels between Tjen and Barty. The Indonesian herself addressed those comparisons in an interview with the WTA Tour website last year. “I have been hearing that a lot,” Tjen said when asked about being likened to the Australian. “She’s, I would say, my role model.”

“I would watch a little bit of her matches and try to copy what works for me, what’s not, and just trying to understand her game a little bit more.” If imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery, Tjen has chosen the perfect blueprint. Barty’s all-court craft propelled her to World No. 1 and multiple Grand Slam titles - a path any rising star would dream of following.

But Swiatek’s post-match reflections in Doha didn’t end with the Ash Barty flashback. Beyond praising Tjen’s style, she also spoke about her extraordinary record and the love she got from the Polish fans in Doha.

What did Iga Swiatek say about her 36th 6-0 set in WTA 1000 events?

Iga Swiatek’s dominance at the Qatar Open continues to redefine consistency at the highest level. The two-time Doha champion improved her record at the WTA 1000 event to a staggering 13-2 after cruising past Janice Tjen, and she now sets her sights on a third title in 2026. Having won 16 of her last 17 matches in the Qatari capital, the Pole looks as comfortable as ever under the desert lights, fueled, in part, by her ever-present Polish supporters.

“Honestly, knowing Polish fans, I don’t feel like I need to encourage them, because they are everywhere, always,” Swiatek said with a smile. “I am grateful for that, and not only Polish fans, but also fans from here and other countries. I feel like there is more and more support for me every year. “I don’t take it for granted, so thank you guys, and see you tomorrow.”

But beyond the scoreline and the support, it was another ruthless statistic that stole the spotlight - Swiatek’s 36th 6-0 set in WTA 1000 events. What did Iga Swiatek say about her 36th 6-0 set in WTA 1000 events?

Against Tjen, Swiatek’s “bagel factory” was officially back in business. The opening 6-0 set marked her 36th bagel in WTA 1000 main draws (formerly Tier I) since the format was introduced in 1990 - the most by any player and enough to place her fifth overall in total 6-0 sets in this category in the Open Era.

When asked whether she ever feels tempted to ease up and “give away” a game at 6-0, Swiatek offered a candid and mature response. “I think when I was younger, I felt that way. But later on, you know, you just want to win it,” she explained. “It’s sports, so it doesn’t make sense to stop or play 80%. I’m here to perform my best. I also always felt it wouldn’t be respectful towards the opponent to give them something because we’re here to play our best. I always just try to focus on myself, and that’s it.”

For Swiatek, dominance isn’t about humiliation - it’s about professionalism. Her mindset reflects that of a champion who understands that every point matters and that easing up would do a disservice to both her opponent and the competition itself. And the bagels are only part of the story.

With her victory in Doha, Swiatek secured her 32nd consecutive opening-match win at a WTA 1000 event - the second-longest streak in the Open Era. The last time she fell in a first-round match at this level was in Cincinnati in 2022, when she lost to Ons Jabeur. Since then, she has stormed through 32 straight tournament openers, collecting 10 titles and reaching at least the semifinals 20 times.

Only Martina Hingis stands ahead of her, having recorded over 40 consecutive opening-match wins in WTA 1000 tournaments between 1996 and 2002 - a benchmark Swiatek is steadily inching toward.

Next up for the former World No. 8 is Daria Kasatkina on Wednesday, February 11. Swiatek leads their head-to-head 6-1 and will look to maintain both her Doha dominance and her historic WTA 1000 opening-round streak.

If her latest bagel is any indication, the Pole has no intention of slowing down.

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallyTennis. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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