Swiatek stays on course in Qatar Open

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February 12, 2025
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12-February-2025

Swiatek stays on course in Qatar Open

Doha: Three-time champion and reigning titleholder Iga Swiatek achieved a remarkable comeback  6-7(1), 6-4, 6-4 victory against Linda Noskova in one of the most exhilarating matches of the round of 16 yesterday. The Czech player challenged the Polish athlete to her utmost limits, demonstrating a strong belief in her ability to secure victory, which resulted in intense and high-caliber exchanges determined by narrow margins. 

This encounter added another significant chapter to their rivalry: Linda managed to take the first set from Iga in Doha since her debut in 2022. However, Swiatek responded with an immediate resurgence and showcased her instinct for winning during critical moments. This comeback victory propels Swiatek into the quarterfinals, where she will compete against Elena Rybakina.

Former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko scored her first Top-10 win since 2023 with a 6-2, 6-2 defeat of No. 4 seed Jasmine Paolini in the third-round match yesterday. The 27-year-old trailed 2-0 in the second set but responded by reeling off the last six games of the match to seal victory and progressed into the quarters in just 63 minutes.

Having already posted consecutive wins this week for the first time since reaching last year's Wimbledon quarterfinals, Ostapenko has now notched her 12th career Top 5 win.
The last time she defeated a Top 10 opponent was in the 2023 Beijing third round, where she bested Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-2.

Tunisia's Ons Jabeur reached her third quarterfinal at the Qatar Total Energies Open after knocking out the USA's Sofia Kenin in straight sets (6-3, 6-4) yesterday. 

Jabeur, the 2022 and 2023 Wimbledon finalist, had accounted for the (6-3, 6-4) defeat of another American, McCartney Kessler, in the Round of 64 before staging an emphatic 6-4, 6-2 victory over the formidable Zheng Qinwen, the reigning Olympic champion, in the second round of the Doha tournament. Jelena Ostapenko awaits the 30-year-old winner of five singles titles on the WTA Tour in the quarterfinals.

Elena Rybakina advanced to the quarter-finals yesterday, securing a 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 win over Rebecca Sramkova. The fifth seed faced challenges with inconsistency during the initial set, having initially established a 3-0 lead and missing three set points in the 10th game. However, she regained control during the tie-break. The former Wimbledon champion broke the serve of world No. 46 Sramkova to commence the second set and dominated by winning the first four games, ultimately concluding the match in 84 minutes.