Iga Swiatek Defeats Elena Rybakina, Advances to Qatar Open Semifinals

Iga Swiatek advanced to the semifinals of the Qatar Open by defeating Elena Rybakina 6-2, 7-5, marking her 15th consecutive victory in Doha and improving her lifetime record at the event to 16-1. Swiatek's performance showcased her ability to counter Rybakina's powerful serve, breaking her four times and winning 16 of 23 points on Rybakina's second serve. She aims for a record-extending fourth consecutive title at the tournament, a feat only accomplished by Caroline Wozniacki since 2000. Meanwhile, Ekaterina Alexandrova also progressed by eliminating sixth-seeded Jessica Pegula in a three-set match, setting up a semifinal clash against either Amanda Anisimova or Marta Kostyuk. The tournament has seen significant upsets, with top-seeded players like Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff being knocked out early, leaving Swiatek and Rybakina as the highest-ranked players remaining. Swiatek's next challenge will be against either Jelena Ostapenko or Ons Jabeur.