Lucie Safarova broke her WTA Premier duck on Saturday with her first victory over Victoria Azarenka in the final of the Qatar Open.
The Czech had dropped only one set on her way to the final and she earned a 6-4 6-3 victory over Azarenka - who she had lost her previous six matches against - in just less than an hour and a half in Doha.
Azarenka tasted victory in this tournament in both 2012 and 2013, but there was to be no hat-trick of wins for the world number 48.
Safarova started strongly and broke her opponent in the very first game, only for Azarenka to hit back in game six to move it back on serve.
However, Safarova made another break in the ninth and, after saving a break point when serving for the set, eventually consolidated to take the lead.
Once again, Safarova got her nose in front in the early stages of the second by breaking Azarenka to 15 in game three.
She was forced to save three break points in game six before holding on as she edged ever closer to victory.
Safarova then earned herself three match points in game nine and, although Azarenka was able to save the first two, she could not deny her opponent for a third time as Safarova clinched her first success at Premier level.