Swiatek cruises past Rybakina
There was no surprise in the quarterfinal clash in Doha, where Iga Swiatek faced Elena Rybakina. The Pole played much better than in her previous match against Linda Noskova and secured a straight-set victory, 6-2, 7-5.
The first set was a near-flawless performance from the world number two, as she took an early lead and did not face a single breakpoint. The second set, however, seemed to promise a turning point. Rybakina responded more aggressively after a one-sided opening set and secured an early break in the first game. However, Swiatek quickly recovered, breaking back in the eighth game. She then went on to win five of the last six games, sealing a much easier victory than expected. Swiatek controlled the match, facing just 14 pressure points on serve and winning 10 of them—an impressive display on her road to a fourth consecutive title in Doha.
Ostapenko's flawless week sets up intriguing semis clash
Jelena Ostapenko will be Swiatek’s opponent in the semifinals. Known for her on-court inconsistency, the Latvian has been flawless in Doha so far, moving into the semis without dropping a set.
Ostapenko avenged her loss to Ons Jabeur from last week in Abu Dhabi, dominating the Tunisian from start to finish in a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory. Despite Jabeur being a slight pre-match favorite, Ostapenko dictated play throughout. A standout statistic from her Doha campaign is her 61% return games won—a staggering number, backed by a much more reliable serve than usual. The 2017 Roland Garros champion is typically unpredictable in her service games, but this week she has shown a level of consistency rarely seen in past seasons. Last year, her tournaments were often marred by double faults and unforced errors, but in Doha, she looks rejuvenated.
Despite Jabeur’s reputation for consistency, she has now fallen at the quarterfinal stage for the third time this year. Swiatek, however, may have reasons for concern—Ostapenko leads their head-to-head 4-0, an unusual liability for the world number two.
Alexandrova delivers another upset
This week has been full of surprises in Qatar, resulting in three of the four semifinalists being unseeded. However, their lower rankings do not reflect their level of play, as demonstrated by Ekaterina Alexandrova’s stunning run.
The Russian started her campaign with a sensational win over Aryna Sabalenka, followed by a dominant victory against Elise Mertens. She continued her impressive form today, staging another upset by defeating Jessica Pegula.
Pegula began the match strongly, taking the first set 6-4. However, Alexandrova found her rhythm, improving her serve and composure in rallies. She took complete control in the second set, leaving Pegula searching for answers. The American struggled in the decider, ultimately losing the final five games of the match. Alexandrova closed it out 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 to book her spot in the semifinals.
Anisimova edges Kostyuk in a late-night encounter
The final semifinalist is Amanda Anisimova, who secured her spot after a dramatic late-night victory over Marta Kostyuk. Their match was the most competitive of the day, filled with momentum shifts and high-intensity rallies.
Kostyuk initially looked poised for victory after a strong comeback in the first set, rallying from a double-break deficit to take it 6-4. Anisimova responded in the second, taking the lead twice before Kostyuk battled back to 5-5. However, the American held her nerve, eventually closing the set 7-5.
The final set followed a similar pattern, with Anisimova securing a break lead in the fifth game and holding onto it until the end. After two and a half hours of grueling tennis, she emerged victorious with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 win, completing the semifinal lineup in Doha.
