The round of 16 in WTA 1000 events is always an exciting day, with all eight matches taking place on the same day, creating a true festival of tennis. The same was expected in Doha, but surprisingly, big emotions were hard to find on the court. Only one match went the full distance, while the others ended mainly in straight sets without any remarkable stories. However, this type of tournament brings some unusual and interesting statistics - six out of eight quarterfinalists have reached this stage without losing a set in Doha!

Unexpectedly, the only thrilling match of the day involved Iga Swiatek . The three-time consecutive champion of this tournament had to fight hard for her place in the quarterfinals but ultimately triumphed over Linda Noskova.

Resillience in decisive moments keeps Swiatek in play

The match began with Noskova showcasing remarkable composure and firepower. She utilized her powerful serve to great effect, delivering 16 aces throughout the match, with nine coming in the first set alone. Her aggressive shot-making kept Swiatek on the defensive, leading to a dominant tiebreak performance where the Czech clinched the set with a surprisingly one-sided 7-1 score.

After dropping the first set, Swiatek made crucial strategic adjustments. She focused on neutralizing Noskova’s serve by improving her return game and extending rallies. The world number two also displayed impressive mental resilience, saving six out of eight break points in key moments. As the match progressed, Swiatek's ability to stay consistent under pressure played a pivotal role in her comeback.

With the match extending into a third set, both players were pushed to their limits. Although Noskova won more total points (101 to Swiatek's 98), Swiatek capitalized on crucial moments, breaking Noskova’s serve at decisive points. She was more effective during pressure situations - Noskova created 30 Pressure Points on Świątek’s return, while Swiatek pressured Noskova during just 23 points on her serve. Despite this, Świątek won 44% of those heat up moments, compared to Noskova's 30% conversion rate.

After surviving this tough challenge, Swiatek faces no easy path ahead as she sets up a quarterfinal clash against Elena Rybakina. Both are the only top-five seeds left in the draw, making this matchup feel like an early final. Rybakina secured her second consecutive straight-set win, defeating Rebecca Sramkova 7-6(1), 6-2. While the first set was competitive, Rybakina’s strong serving—winning 90% of points after her first serve - ensured her victory with ease.

Alexandrova’s Flawless Run Continues

Ekaterina Alexandrova continues her impressive run in Doha. Following her stunning victory over Aryna Sabalenka, she proved it was no fluke by delivering a comprehensive performance against Elise Mertens, the recent Singapore champion. Alexandrova faced just one break point throughout the match and, despite being an underdog (with pre-match odds of 2.33), secured a convincing 6-4, 6-2 win. She now faces Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals. The American reached this stage without losing a set, eliminating Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 7-5. It's Pegula's 15th QF on the WTA 1000 level since 2020 - the most out of all the players, which is an amazing achievement and a proof of top class consistency.

Kostyuk and Anisimova set for an exciting clash

Marta Kostyuk has maintained her momentum after her stunning victory over Coco Gauff. She secured her third consecutive straight-sets win, defeating Magda Linette 6-4, 6-2. She will face Amanda Anisimova, who continues her resurgence in the WTA rankings. Anisimova advanced to her second quarterfinal of 2025 with a flawless performance against Leylah Fernandez, winning 6-3, 6-0. With both players in great form and yet to lose a set in Doha, this matchup promises to be a spectacle.

Redemption year for consistent Jabeur

After a challenging 2024 season, Ons Jabeur is regaining her form and consistency. The Tunisian, a former full-time top-10 player, has now reached her third quarterfinal of 2025. However, she has yet to advance beyond this stage, having fallen in the Brisbane and Abu Dhabi tournaments earlier this year. This time, she has a great opportunity against Jelena Ostapenko.

Ostapenko, who has dropped to her lowest WTA ranking in years (currently 37th), delivered her most dominant performance of the season, eliminating Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-2. Intriguingly, this match between Jabeur and Ostapenko features yet another pairing of players who have yet to lose a set in Doha.