The world No. 1, Carlos Alcaraz, stayed unbeaten in 2026 after defeating Andrey Rublev 7-6(3), 6-4 on Friday (Feb 20) to reach the final of the Qatar Open. The defending champion, Rublev, came back from 0-3 down in the second set to level the score and saved five match points. However, Alcaraz stayed calm and secured his 11th straight win of the season.&nbsp;Alcaraz has reached the final in the last four Grand Slam tournaments and won three of them. He said he is working hard to improve and feels happy with his progress and growing maturity.&nbsp;“I know what I’m able to ‌do every time that I step on court. ‌For ⁠me it’s great. Obviously, the way I’m ⁠approaching every match, I’m just really proud about it,” said 22-year-old Alcaraz.&nbsp;“I’m trying to be better at that... it’s paying off. All the focus and attention. I’m just happy and proud about myself with how I’m ‌getting better and getting mature I guess.”&nbsp;Rublev struggled early in the match, making 14 unforced errors on his backhand in the first set. Still, he hit several strong forehands that landed close to the baseline. Both players broke each other’s serve twice, leading to a tiebreak.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-you-ve-still-got-to-play-jos-buttler-on-his-form-in-t20-world-cup-2026-1771643607831">‘You’ve still got to play…’: Jos Buttler on his form in T20 World Cup 2026</a>

Alcaraz stayed focused in the tiebreak and moved ahead 6-3. Rublev showed his frustration by hitting his racket against his knee, breaking a string and soon after, Alcaraz won the first set.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the second set, Alcaraz broke Rublev’s serve twice to lead 5-3 and served for the match. Rublev saved three match points and broke back. But Alcaraz broke serve again in the next game and finally won on his sixth match point when Rublev’s backhand went wide.&nbsp;Later in the day, world No. 16 Jakub Mensik was set to face Arthur Fils in the other semifinal.

Andrey Rublev ⁠fought back from 0-3 down to level the second set and then saved five match points, but it was Carlos Alcaraz who emerged victorious in the end.

The world No. 1, Carlos Alcaraz, stayed unbeaten in 2026 after defeating Andrey Rublev 7-6(3), 6-4 on Friday (Feb 20) to reach the final of the Qatar Open. The defending champion, Rublev, came back from 0-3 down in the second set to level the score and saved five match points. However, Alcaraz stayed calm and secured his 11th straight win of the season. Alcaraz has reached the final in the last four Grand Slam tournaments and won three of them. He said he is working hard to improve and feels happy with his progress and growing maturity. “I know what I’m able to ‌do every time that I step on court. ‌For ⁠me it’s great. Obviously, the way I’m ⁠approaching every match, I’m just really proud about it,” said 22-year-old Alcaraz. “I’m trying to be better at that... it’s paying off. All the focus and attention. I’m just happy and proud about myself with how I’m ‌getting better and getting mature I guess.” Rublev struggled early in the match, making 14 unforced errors on his backhand in the first set. Still, he hit several strong forehands that landed close to the baseline. Both players broke each other’s serve twice, leading to a tiebreak. Also Read - ‘You’ve still got to play…’: Jos Buttler on his form in T20 World Cup 2026

Andrey Rublev ⁠fought back from 0-3 down to level the second set and then saved five match points, but it was Carlos Alcaraz who emerged victorious in the end.

Qatar Open: World No. 1 Alcaraz beats defending champion Andrey Rublev to secure final spot

Novak Djokovic's comeback came to a crashing halt on Tuesday as he lost 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 to Matteo Berrettini in the second round of the Qatar Open.
Djokovic, who was seeded third and received a first-round bye, was playing his first match since limping out of his Australian Open semi-final in January.&nbsp;
But the Serb said that while he was not 100 per cent, fitness was not the issue.
"I was outplayed by just a better player today," he said.&nbsp;
"Yes, I wasn't at my desired level, and it could be that I'm still not moving the way I want to move, but I played without pain, so there is no excuse in that."
"I think he played a masterclass match to be honest, tactically, and served very well, so just a very deserved win from his side."
It was only Berrettini's second&nbsp;win this year and his first over a player in the top 10 since 2023.&nbsp;
It was also the Italian's first ever win over Djokovic. Their previous encounters included victories for the Serb in the Wimbledon final and Roland Garros quarterfinals both in 2021.&nbsp;
"Something I've been looking to do for a long time. I've played against him in the most important tournaments on tour,"&nbsp;the 28-year-old Italian said on court after the victory. "I wish I could have won one of those matches."
Berrettini has struggled with injuries over the last 18 months but won three tournaments after returning to court last year.
"Really happy with my performance," he said. "Really happy because I enjoyed my time out there, which is the most important thing."
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The first set went with serve but Berrettini took two points off Djokovic's serve to win the tiebreak.&nbsp;The Italian then broke to love in the second game of the second set.&nbsp;
Djokovic had broken Berrettini 27 times in their four previous encounters but the Italian was comfortable on serve until the final game before finally winning on his second match point.
"A champion like Novak is always ready to come back," Berrettini said. "You don't have to think about match point. You have to think about the next point."&nbsp;
Djokovic said that Andy Murray had agreed to continue as his coach "indefinitely" but said that he did not plan to overhaul his style.&nbsp;
"I am trying to improve my game, like everybody else. But my game is not going to change now drastically," Djokovic said. "My game is what it is, the core is going to be the same."
"There are more injuries. Things are not the same as 10 years ago, 15 years ago. I still try to take care of my body on a daily basis, and it's more challenging now, no doubt. I still try to do my very best, given the circumstances."
<h2>Cold and windy</h2>
Alex de Minaur celebrated his birthday by beating Russian Roman Safiullin&nbsp;6-1, 7-5, even though the Australian did not enjoy the weather.
"They're tough days, these ones," said De Minaur. "It's cold, it's windy, you probably don't want to get out of bed. But once you step on court, you have to do everything you can to win.&nbsp;
"Whether it's ugly or pretty tennis, you just put the ball in the court, and that's what I did today."&nbsp;
World No.6 Daniil Medvedev eliminated compatriot and defending champion Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.&nbsp;
Medvedev, the former world No.1, has not won a tournament since the Rome Masters in spring 2023. He was knocked out in the second round of this year's Australian Open by teenage American Learner Tien.&nbsp;
A third Russian former champion, Andrey Rublev, the fifth seed, beat Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-4.
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Sports, Tennis: Novak Djokovic, who was seeded third and received a first-round bye, was playing his first match since limping out of his Australian Open semi-final in January.

Novak Djokovic's comeback came to a crashing halt on Tuesday as he lost 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 to Matteo Berrettini in the second round of the Qatar Open. Djokovic, who was seeded third and received a first-round bye, was playing his first match since limping out of his Australian Open semi-final in January. But the Serb said that while he was not 100 per cent, fitness was not the issue. "I was outplayed by just a better player today," he said. "Yes, I wasn't at my desired level, and it could be that I'm still not moving the way I want to move, but I played without pain, so there is no excuse in that." "I think he played a masterclass match to be honest, tactically, and served very well, so just a very deserved win from his side." It was only Berrettini's second win this year and his first over a player in the top 10 since 2023. It was also the Italian's first ever win over Djokovic. Their previous encounters included victories for the Serb in the Wimbledon final and Roland Garros quarterfinals both in 2021. "Something I've been looking to do for a long time. I've played against him in the most important tournaments on tour," the 28-year-old Italian said on court after the victory. "I wish I could have won one of those matches." Berrettini has struggled with injuries over the last 18 months but won three tournaments after returning to court last year. "Really happy with my performance," he said. "Really happy because I enjoyed my time out there, which is the most important thing." ALSO READ | SWOT analysis | Champions Trophy 2025: Underdogs with fighting spirit - Can Bangladesh overcome the odds? The first set went with serve but Berrettini took two points off Djokovic's serve to win the tiebreak. The Italian then broke to love in the second game of the second set. Djokovic had broken Berrettini 27 times in their four previous encounters but the Italian was comfortable on serve until the final game before finally winning on his second match point. "A champion like Novak is always ready to come back," Berrettini said. "You don't have to think about match point. You have to think about the next point." Djokovic said that Andy Murray had agreed to continue as his coach "indefinitely" but said that he did not plan to overhaul his style. "I am trying to improve my game, like everybody else. But my game is not going to change now drastically," Djokovic said. "My game is what it is, the core is going to be the same." "There are more injuries. Things are not the same as 10 years ago, 15 years ago. I still try to take care of my body on a daily basis, and it's more challenging now, no doubt. I still try to do my very best, given the circumstances." Cold and windy Alex de Minaur celebrated his birthday by beating Russian Roman Safiullin 6-1, 7-5, even though the Australian did not enjoy the weather. "They're tough days, these ones," said De Minaur. "It's cold, it's windy, you probably don't want to get out of bed. But once you step on court, you have to do everything you can to win. "Whether it's ugly or pretty tennis, you just put the ball in the court, and that's what I did today." World No.6 Daniil Medvedev eliminated compatriot and defending champion Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. Medvedev, the former world No.1, has not won a tournament since the Rome Masters in spring 2023. He was knocked out in the second round of this year's Australian Open by teenage American Learner Tien. A third Russian former champion, Andrey Rublev, the fifth seed, beat Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-4. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Qatar Open: Matteo Berrettini ends Novak Djokovic's comeback in straight sets win

Amanda Anisimova clinched the first WTA 1000 title of her career with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/jelena-ostapenko">Jelena Ostapenko</a> in a rain-interrupted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/qatar-open">Qatar&nbsp;Open</a>&nbsp;final on Saturday, a triumph achieved after a 'lot of hard work and a lot of tears'.
At 41 in the world, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/amanda-anisimova">Anisimova</a> is the lowest-ranked champion in tournament history and the first American to claim the Doha title since Monica Seles in 2002.
Ostapenko was coming off a resounding victory over three-time champion and world number two <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/iga-swiatek">Iga Swiatek</a> in the previous round but Anisimova gave the Latvian a taste of her own medicine, showcasing incredible ball-striking and precision.
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"This week has been amazing. To be able to lift the trophy here for my first WTA 1000 is super special," said Anisimova, who will make her top-20 debut on Monday, rising to a career-high 18 in the world.
Anisimova enjoyed early success in her career, reaching the semi-finals of the 2019 French&nbsp;Open&nbsp;when she was just 17 years old.&nbsp;In May 2023, the American announced she would be taking an indefinite break from tennis, citing burnout and mental health concerns.
The American returned to action at the start of last season, ranked 373 in the world, and has clawed her way back up the charts to hit a new milestone when the new rankings are released on Monday.
"There's been a lot of hard work, a lot of tears, a lot of good moments. I think with tennis you experience it all, but that's also why I love it," said Anisimova.
"There have been a lot of challenges the last few weeks and I'm very proud of myself and happy with how I've dealt with them. It's been an incredible week on top of that."
In the first WTA 1000 final to feature two players ranked outside the top 30, Ostapenko and Anisimova traded heavy blows from the baseline, both utilising the same aggressive game style that carried them into the championship match.
<h2>'Come back stronger'</h2>
Anisimova, 23, was the more clinical of the pair in the opening set, as she remained unfazed when her early break of serve was nullified by former French&nbsp;Open&nbsp;champion Ostapenko and broke again in the tenth game to take the lead in 37 minutes.
It was the first set Ostapenko dropped all week, the five double faults she committed proving costly against a dialled-in Anisimova.
Anisimova looked on her way to a comfortable win when she broke for a 2-1 advantage in the second set but Ostapenko responded immediately and got the set back on serve.
Rain suspended play with Ostapenko serving at 3-3, 40-40 and players were taken off court for nearly 25 minutes.&nbsp;Anisimova broke serve upon resumption of play and kept up her all-out attack strategy to wrap up the win after one hour and 21 minutes of play.
Ostapenko finished the match with 10 double faults and has now fallen to 0-3 in WTA 1000 finals.&nbsp;Still, the 27-year-old can take many positives from her week in Doha, where she defeated two top-five players &ndash; Swiatek and Jasmine Paolini &ndash; in the same tournament for the first time in her career.
"Of course it's not the result that I wanted today but I really hope I will come back stronger and I hope that one day I will lift this trophy," said Ostapenko.
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Sports, Tennis: At 41 in the world, Anisimova is the lowest-ranked champion in tournament history and the first American to claim the Doha title since Monica Seles in 2002

Amanda Anisimova clinched the first WTA 1000 title of her career with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Jelena Ostapenko in a rain-interrupted Qatar Open final on Saturday, a triumph achieved after a 'lot of hard work and a lot of tears'. At 41 in the world, Anisimova is the lowest-ranked champion in tournament history and the first American to claim the Doha title since Monica Seles in 2002. Ostapenko was coming off a resounding victory over three-time champion and world number two Iga Swiatek in the previous round but Anisimova gave the Latvian a taste of her own medicine, showcasing incredible ball-striking and precision. Also Read: Manchester United's Diallo sidelined for rest of season with injury - Report "This week has been amazing. To be able to lift the trophy here for my first WTA 1000 is super special," said Anisimova, who will make her top-20 debut on Monday, rising to a career-high 18 in the world. Anisimova enjoyed early success in her career, reaching the semi-finals of the 2019 French Open when she was just 17 years old. In May 2023, the American announced she would be taking an indefinite break from tennis, citing burnout and mental health concerns. The American returned to action at the start of last season, ranked 373 in the world, and has clawed her way back up the charts to hit a new milestone when the new rankings are released on Monday. "There's been a lot of hard work, a lot of tears, a lot of good moments. I think with tennis you experience it all, but that's also why I love it," said Anisimova. "There have been a lot of challenges the last few weeks and I'm very proud of myself and happy with how I've dealt with them. It's been an incredible week on top of that." In the first WTA 1000 final to feature two players ranked outside the top 30, Ostapenko and Anisimova traded heavy blows from the baseline, both utilising the same aggressive game style that carried them into the championship match. 'Come back stronger' Anisimova, 23, was the more clinical of the pair in the opening set, as she remained unfazed when her early break of serve was nullified by former French Open champion Ostapenko and broke again in the tenth game to take the lead in 37 minutes. It was the first set Ostapenko dropped all week, the five double faults she committed proving costly against a dialled-in Anisimova. Anisimova looked on her way to a comfortable win when she broke for a 2-1 advantage in the second set but Ostapenko responded immediately and got the set back on serve. Rain suspended play with Ostapenko serving at 3-3, 40-40 and players were taken off court for nearly 25 minutes. Anisimova broke serve upon resumption of play and kept up her all-out attack strategy to wrap up the win after one hour and 21 minutes of play. Ostapenko finished the match with 10 double faults and has now fallen to 0-3 in WTA 1000 finals. Still, the 27-year-old can take many positives from her week in Doha, where she defeated two top-five players – Swiatek and Jasmine Paolini – in the same tournament for the first time in her career. "Of course it's not the result that I wanted today but I really hope I will come back stronger and I hope that one day I will lift this trophy," said Ostapenko. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Qatar Open: Anisimova triumphs in Doha, clinches first WTA 1000 title of career

Three-time defending <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/qatar-open">Qatar Open</a> champion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/iga-swiatek">Iga Swiatek</a> suffered a crushing 6-3, 6-1 defeat by Jelena Ostapenko in the semi-finals on Friday, her fifth loss in as many meetings with the mercurial Latvian.
Swiatek entered the semi-finals carrying a 15-match winning streak in Doha, having clinched the title in each of the last three editions.
The five-time Grand Slam champion was looking to become the first player since 2011 &ndash; and just second this century &ndash; to win the same WTA tournament four years in a row but Ostapenko had other ideas.
Ostapenko, the 2017 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/roland-garros">Roland Garros</a> champion, became the first player to defeat Swiatek on five occasions.&nbsp;The world number 37 fired 24 winners against just 15 unforced errors, brushing aside the second-ranked Pole after just 70 minutes of play.
Ostapenko is through to the third WTA 1000 final of her career and is searching for her first title at that level, having lost on her two previous attempts in Doha 2016 and Miami 2018.
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She will face Amanda Anisimova in Saturday's championship match after the American defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-3 to reach her second WTA 1000 final.
"I feel like this court has a special energy and it was always helping me. Everything started for me on this court (when I reached the final in 2016)," said Ostapenko.
"Today when I went on the court I was pretty confident that I could beat her because we played a lot of matches and I kind of know how to play against her. I was just focusing on myself and knew what I had to do. I'm really happy with the way I'm handling my emotions this week and I'm so happy to be in the final."
A blistering start from Ostapenko saw the Latvian unleash a forehand winner to break Swiatek in the opening game of the contest and she surrendered just one point on her way to a 2-0 lead.
Ostapenko got her hands on three set points on the Swiatek serve at 5-3 and converted her third opportunity to scoop the first set in 35 minutes.
The start of the second set followed a similar pattern to the first, with Ostapenko punishing Swiatek's serve, and attacking any short ball that came her way.
As the match clock hit one hour, Ostapenko was already up a set and 4-0 and cruising. Swiatek halted the momentum by getting one of the breaks back but her comeback attempt was short-lived as she dropped serve again the following game en route to a hefty defeat.
<h2>'Knew what to expect'&nbsp;</h2>
Ostapenko limited Swiatek to under 50 percent in points won behind the first or second serve and logged seven return winners against the Pole.
"Obviously I was preparing for the match, and I pretty much knew what to expect from her," said Ostapenko of her success on return against Swiatek.
"I don't know, sometimes I know where the ball's coming, but sometimes I'm just going with my feelings and my instincts, so that helps me."
Another streak was broken on Friday as Anisimova, 23, ended Alexandrova's eight-match unbeaten run to advance to the final.&nbsp;Alexandrova ousted two top-five players in Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula on her way to the Doha semi-finals, and was coming off of a title run in Linz earlier this month.
Anisimova broke twice to open up an early 4-0 gap and it took Alexandrova 22 minutes before she finally got on the board.&nbsp;The big-hitting American bagged the opening set in 43 minutes and built a 4-1 lead in the second before securing passage to the fifth WTA final of her career. &nbsp;
Anisimova saved nine of the 10 break points she faced during the match to set up an all-unseeded showdown against Ostapenko.
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Sports, Tennis: Iga was looking to become the first player since 2011 – and just second this century – to win the same WTA tournament four years in a row but Jelena had other ideas

Three-time defending Qatar Open champion Iga Swiatek suffered a crushing 6-3, 6-1 defeat by Jelena Ostapenko in the semi-finals on Friday, her fifth loss in as many meetings with the mercurial Latvian. Swiatek entered the semi-finals carrying a 15-match winning streak in Doha, having clinched the title in each of the last three editions. The five-time Grand Slam champion was looking to become the first player since 2011 – and just second this century – to win the same WTA tournament four years in a row but Ostapenko had other ideas. Ostapenko, the 2017 Roland Garros champion, became the first player to defeat Swiatek on five occasions. The world number 37 fired 24 winners against just 15 unforced errors, brushing aside the second-ranked Pole after just 70 minutes of play. Ostapenko is through to the third WTA 1000 final of her career and is searching for her first title at that level, having lost on her two previous attempts in Doha 2016 and Miami 2018. Also Read: Mitoma & Minteh’s magic inspires Brighton to dominating win over Chelsea She will face Amanda Anisimova in Saturday's championship match after the American defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-3 to reach her second WTA 1000 final. "I feel like this court has a special energy and it was always helping me. Everything started for me on this court (when I reached the final in 2016)," said Ostapenko. "Today when I went on the court I was pretty confident that I could beat her because we played a lot of matches and I kind of know how to play against her. I was just focusing on myself and knew what I had to do. I'm really happy with the way I'm handling my emotions this week and I'm so happy to be in the final." A blistering start from Ostapenko saw the Latvian unleash a forehand winner to break Swiatek in the opening game of the contest and she surrendered just one point on her way to a 2-0 lead. Ostapenko got her hands on three set points on the Swiatek serve at 5-3 and converted her third opportunity to scoop the first set in 35 minutes. The start of the second set followed a similar pattern to the first, with Ostapenko punishing Swiatek's serve, and attacking any short ball that came her way. As the match clock hit one hour, Ostapenko was already up a set and 4-0 and cruising. Swiatek halted the momentum by getting one of the breaks back but her comeback attempt was short-lived as she dropped serve again the following game en route to a hefty defeat. 'Knew what to expect' Ostapenko limited Swiatek to under 50 percent in points won behind the first or second serve and logged seven return winners against the Pole. "Obviously I was preparing for the match, and I pretty much knew what to expect from her," said Ostapenko of her success on return against Swiatek. "I don't know, sometimes I know where the ball's coming, but sometimes I'm just going with my feelings and my instincts, so that helps me." Another streak was broken on Friday as Anisimova, 23, ended Alexandrova's eight-match unbeaten run to advance to the final. Alexandrova ousted two top-five players in Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula on her way to the Doha semi-finals, and was coming off of a title run in Linz earlier this month. Anisimova broke twice to open up an early 4-0 gap and it took Alexandrova 22 minutes before she finally got on the board. The big-hitting American bagged the opening set in 43 minutes and built a 4-1 lead in the second before securing passage to the fifth WTA final of her career. Anisimova saved nine of the 10 break points she faced during the match to set up an all-unseeded showdown against Ostapenko. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Qatar Open: Ostapenko keeps it perfect against Swiatek to reach final

Three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek advanced to the semi-finals of the WTA Qatar Open on Thursday with a straight sets win over last year's runner-up Elena Rybakina. Second-seed Swiatek staved off a fightback from the fifth-seeded Kazakh in the second set to win through 6-2, 7-5.<o:p></o:p>
Ekaterina Alexandrova continued her impressive form against sixth-seed Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 having eliminated world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the second round.<o:p></o:p>
After the exits of Rybakina and Pegula, Swiatek is the last survivor among the Doha seeds. <o:p></o:p>
"I'm super happy and proud of myself, in the second set I felt she lifted her level," said Swiatek, who next plays either Tunisia's 35th ranked Ons Jabeur, a former world number two, or 37th-ranked Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia.<o:p></o:p>
"They have totally different game styles. I need to be prepared for some tricky shots, but I have some myself," added five-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek who is bidding for a 23rd WTA title.<o:p></o:p>
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Against Rybakina, Swiatek easily won the first set in just over half an hour after breaking her rival's serve twice.&nbsp;But the Pole was broken at the start of the second and struggled to catch up for a long time, missing five break points before finally finding the opening to get back to 4-4. <o:p></o:p>
A break at 6-5 in favour of Swiatek, sealed by a double fault from Rybakina, ensured the Pole won the game.<o:p></o:p>
Earlier Alexandrova, ranked 26th, extended her winning run to eight matches having won the tournament in Linz, Austria this month.<o:p></o:p>
The Russian struggled in the first set against her fifth-ranked opponent, saving six of eight break points, and paying for four double faults. <o:p></o:p>
But she took control thereafter allowing her opponent just two games to ease through for a 2-1 record in their third meeting.<o:p></o:p>
"I just play every single match and every single point and I don't think about the future," said the 30-year-old, who is bidding for a sixth career title. <o:p></o:p>
She next meets either Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk or American Amanda Anisimova for a place in the final.<o:p></o:p>
"It's step by step and I am glad that policy is working out as I feel amazing. Being in semis is just great.<o:p></o:p>
"When I saw the draw I thought maybe I will not get very far. But overall so far played great matches here...hope it continues."
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Tennis: Alexandrova continued her impressive form against sixth-seed Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 having eliminated world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the second round.

Three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek advanced to the semi-finals of the WTA Qatar Open on Thursday with a straight sets win over last year's runner-up Elena Rybakina. Second-seed Swiatek staved off a fightback from the fifth-seeded Kazakh in the second set to win through 6-2, 7-5. Ekaterina Alexandrova continued her impressive form against sixth-seed Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 having eliminated world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the second round. After the exits of Rybakina and Pegula, Swiatek is the last survivor among the Doha seeds. "I'm super happy and proud of myself, in the second set I felt she lifted her level," said Swiatek, who next plays either Tunisia's 35th ranked Ons Jabeur, a former world number two, or 37th-ranked Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia. "They have totally different game styles. I need to be prepared for some tricky shots, but I have some myself," added five-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek who is bidding for a 23rd WTA title. Also read | Exclusive: Jyoti sets sights on FIH Pro League 2024/25 after HIL success Against Rybakina, Swiatek easily won the first set in just over half an hour after breaking her rival's serve twice. But the Pole was broken at the start of the second and struggled to catch up for a long time, missing five break points before finally finding the opening to get back to 4-4. A break at 6-5 in favour of Swiatek, sealed by a double fault from Rybakina, ensured the Pole won the game. Earlier Alexandrova, ranked 26th, extended her winning run to eight matches having won the tournament in Linz, Austria this month. The Russian struggled in the first set against her fifth-ranked opponent, saving six of eight break points, and paying for four double faults. But she took control thereafter allowing her opponent just two games to ease through for a 2-1 record in their third meeting. "I just play every single match and every single point and I don't think about the future," said the 30-year-old, who is bidding for a sixth career title. She next meets either Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk or American Amanda Anisimova for a place in the final. "It's step by step and I am glad that policy is working out as I feel amazing. Being in semis is just great. "When I saw the draw I thought maybe I will not get very far. But overall so far played great matches here...hope it continues." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Tennis: Defending champion Iga Swiatek cruises into Qatar Open semis

Three-time defending Qatar Open champion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=Iga+Swiatek" rel="dofollow">Iga Swiatek</a> scraped her way past Czech youngster Linda Noskova on Wednesday to set up a quarter-final clash with last year's runner-up&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=Elena+Rybakina" rel="dofollow">Elena Rybakina</a>.
Swiatek dropped a set in Doha for the first time since 2022 -- ending a run of 25 wins in a row -- but recovered to advance 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 6-4 and extend her winning streak at the tournament to 14 matches.
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The five-time Grand Slam champion will take on 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina on Thursday for a place in the semi-finals. Swiatek beat Rybakina in straight sets in the final 12 months ago.
The Pole's reign looked in jeopardy when the 20-year-old Noskova, a semi-finalist in Abu Dhabi last week, dominated a first set tie-break after being unable to capitalise on five break points.
Swiatek, without a title since the French Open in June, broke to go 3-2 up in the second set. Noskova immediately hit back, but the second seed responded in kind to regain her advantage.
Noskova had a break point as her opponent served for the set, but Swiatek kept her cool to force a decider.
Swiatek won the first two games of the final set before Noskova reeled off the next three for a 3-2 edge, and the Pole was wobbling in the eighth game.
However, from 0-30 down on her serve, she rattled off six straight points to hold and then land the crucial break with a forehand into the open court.
Swiatek closed out the victory in the following game despite winning fewer points than Noskova overall.
Rybakina progressed earlier in the day with a 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 win over Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova.
The fifth seed from Kazakhstan battled inconsistency in the first set after racing into a 3-0 lead, failing to convert three set points in the 10th game before finally taking charge in the tie-break.
Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina broke world number 46 Sramkova to start the second set and won the first four games as she wrapped up the victory with minimal fuss.
Rybakina's coach Stefano Vukov&nbsp;remains banned following the conclusion of an investigation, the WTA confirmed on Tuesday.
He was provisionally suspended last month for allegedly breaching the tour's code of conduct.
<h2>Paolini, Sabalenka ousted</h2>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/jasmine-paolini">Jasmine Paolini</a> became the latest seed to fall on Wednesday as the fourth-ranked Italian was blown away 6-2, 6-2 by the mercurial Jelena Ostapenko.
Ostapenko, who had not won back-to-back matches since Wimbledon until this week, will play Ons Jabeur or Sofia Kenin for a place in the semi-finals.
Four of the top 10 seeds fell on Tuesday as world number one Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Zheng Qinwen and Paula Badosa all exited in the second round. Sixth seed Jessica Pegula avoided the same fate as she defeated Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 7-5.
Ekaterina Alexandrova followed up her victory over <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/aryna-sabalenka">Sabalenka</a> by brushing aside Elise Mertens in two sets, while Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk beat Poland's Magda Linette 6-4, 6-2.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Tennis, Sports: Iga Swiatek dropped a set in Doha for the first time since 2022 — ending a run of 25 wins in a row — but recovered to advance 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 6-4

Three-time defending Qatar Open champion Iga Swiatek scraped her way past Czech youngster Linda Noskova on Wednesday to set up a quarter-final clash with last year's runner-up Elena Rybakina. Swiatek dropped a set in Doha for the first time since 2022 -- ending a run of 25 wins in a row -- but recovered to advance 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 6-4 and extend her winning streak at the tournament to 14 matches. Also Read: India paddle festival returns for second edition as nation prepares for aquatic sports ahead 2026 Asian Games The five-time Grand Slam champion will take on 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina on Thursday for a place in the semi-finals. Swiatek beat Rybakina in straight sets in the final 12 months ago. The Pole's reign looked in jeopardy when the 20-year-old Noskova, a semi-finalist in Abu Dhabi last week, dominated a first set tie-break after being unable to capitalise on five break points. Swiatek, without a title since the French Open in June, broke to go 3-2 up in the second set. Noskova immediately hit back, but the second seed responded in kind to regain her advantage. Noskova had a break point as her opponent served for the set, but Swiatek kept her cool to force a decider. Swiatek won the first two games of the final set before Noskova reeled off the next three for a 3-2 edge, and the Pole was wobbling in the eighth game. However, from 0-30 down on her serve, she rattled off six straight points to hold and then land the crucial break with a forehand into the open court. Swiatek closed out the victory in the following game despite winning fewer points than Noskova overall. Rybakina progressed earlier in the day with a 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 win over Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova. The fifth seed from Kazakhstan battled inconsistency in the first set after racing into a 3-0 lead, failing to convert three set points in the 10th game before finally taking charge in the tie-break. Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina broke world number 46 Sramkova to start the second set and won the first four games as she wrapped up the victory with minimal fuss. Rybakina's coach Stefano Vukov remains banned following the conclusion of an investigation, the WTA confirmed on Tuesday. He was provisionally suspended last month for allegedly breaching the tour's code of conduct. Paolini, Sabalenka ousted Jasmine Paolini became the latest seed to fall on Wednesday as the fourth-ranked Italian was blown away 6-2, 6-2 by the mercurial Jelena Ostapenko. Ostapenko, who had not won back-to-back matches since Wimbledon until this week, will play Ons Jabeur or Sofia Kenin for a place in the semi-finals. Four of the top 10 seeds fell on Tuesday as world number one Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Zheng Qinwen and Paula Badosa all exited in the second round. Sixth seed Jessica Pegula avoided the same fate as she defeated Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 7-5. Ekaterina Alexandrova followed up her victory over Sabalenka by brushing aside Elise Mertens in two sets, while Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk beat Poland's Magda Linette 6-4, 6-2. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Qatar Open: Battling Swiatek lines up quarterfinal against Elena Rybakina

Former U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu said she would make changes to her tournament scheduling following her first round defeat by world number 30 Anhelina Kalinina at the Qatar Open on Monday. The 21-year-old suffered a huge dip in form the season after her 2021 Flushing Meadows triumph, and then spent eight months on the sidelines during an injury-hit 2023 following wrist and ankle surgeries.

Returning to the tour last month, Raducanu lost in the second round at Auckland, the Australian Open and Abu Dhabi, before crashing 6-0 7-6(6) to Kalinina in Doha, and the Briton is now planning to head home after a busy period on tour. "It's hard for me to get used to the tour schedule," world number 262 Raducanu told Sky Sports. "It's one tournament then another straight away. "I need to schedule my tournaments a bit better and try to get more matches under my belt."

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Raducanu will need to be handed a wildcard to play next week in Dubai but media reports said she would take a break before returning for Indian Wells and Miami next month. Raducanu made 48 unforced errors in her latest defeat and said playing during the day may have contributed to her lacklustre display.

"I was struggling with everything, serve, return, forehand, backhand. To be honest I felt like I never really got into it. It was a combination of things," she added. "Honestly, I need to practice training outside a bit more because it's different and also the light, conditions, shadows - it's hard to see the ball, I found towards the end. "When the tennis isn't there, you have to at least try to fight and I think I did that in the second set."

Former U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu said she would make changes to her tournament scheduling following her first round defeat by world number 30 Anhelina Kalinina at the Qatar Open on Monday.

Former U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu said she would make changes to her tournament scheduling following her first round defeat by world number 30 Anhelina Kalinina at the Qatar Open on Monday. The 21-year-old suffered a huge dip in form the season after her 2021 Flushing Meadows triumph, and then spent eight months on the sidelines during an injury-hit 2023 following wrist and ankle surgeries. Returning to the tour last month, Raducanu lost in the second round at Auckland, the Australian Open and Abu Dhabi, before crashing 6-0 7-6(6) to Kalinina in Doha, and the Briton is now planning to head home after a busy period on tour. "It's hard for me to get used to the tour schedule," world number 262 Raducanu told Sky Sports. "It's one tournament then another straight away. "I need to schedule my tournaments a bit better and try to get more matches under my belt." Also read: Tiger Woods, TaylorMade unveil 'Sun Day Red' brand after legendary golfer's Nike split Raducanu will need to be handed a wildcard to play next week in Dubai but media reports said she would take a break before returning for Indian Wells and Miami next month. Raducanu made 48 unforced errors in her latest defeat and said playing during the day may have contributed to her lacklustre display. "I was struggling with everything, serve, return, forehand, backhand. To be honest I felt like I never really got into it. It was a combination of things," she added. "Honestly, I need to practice training outside a bit more because it's different and also the light, conditions, shadows - it's hard to see the ball, I found towards the end. "When the tennis isn't there, you have to at least try to fight and I think I did that in the second set."

Tennis: Emma Raducanu plans scheduling tweaks after Qatar Open ouster

Naomi Osaka may have lost three straight matches following her successful return from maternity break, but the former world number one said ahead of the Qatar Open that the only way was up from here. The four-times Grand Slam champion, who gave birth to her daughter Shai in July, won her first match after 15 months out at the Brisbane International last month before falling to Karolina Pliskova in the second round.

Osaka crashed to opening defeats at the Australian Open and Abu Dhabi against Caroline Garcia and Danielle Collins, but the 26-year-old from Japan said she had not lost her confidence. "It definitely is hard for me to not be tough on myself, but after Abu Dhabi I actually have more confidence in myself, which is a little strange," Osaka told reporters.

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"I feel like since I have seen the worst that can happen, everything else is a plus. In Australia I knew that I said I was only going to play in Dubai, so I feel like I have to take these tournaments as extra credit. "Someone said to me it's like a very expensive practice, so I don't know, after they said that I felt pretty optimistic."

Osaka, who opens her Doha campaign against 15th seed Garcia later on Monday, said she preferred to face tough opponents like the Frenchwoman. "I learn more from the matches. So of course it's funny to hear I'm playing her again but I'm a little happy," Osaka said. "She's always been a really nice person and I know I'm not supposed to think that about my opponent, but I know we also share the same birthday. At the end of the day, a Libran is going to win."

Naomi Osaka may have lost three straight matches following her successful return from maternity break, but the former world number one said ahead of the Qatar Open that the only way was up from here.

Naomi Osaka may have lost three straight matches following her successful return from maternity break, but the former world number one said ahead of the Qatar Open that the only way was up from here. The four-times Grand Slam champion, who gave birth to her daughter Shai in July, won her first match after 15 months out at the Brisbane International last month before falling to Karolina Pliskova in the second round. Osaka crashed to opening defeats at the Australian Open and Abu Dhabi against Caroline Garcia and Danielle Collins, but the 26-year-old from Japan said she had not lost her confidence. "It definitely is hard for me to not be tough on myself, but after Abu Dhabi I actually have more confidence in myself, which is a little strange," Osaka told reporters. Also read: Marathon world-record holder Kelvin Kiptum dies in car crash in Kenya "I feel like since I have seen the worst that can happen, everything else is a plus. In Australia I knew that I said I was only going to play in Dubai, so I feel like I have to take these tournaments as extra credit. "Someone said to me it's like a very expensive practice, so I don't know, after they said that I felt pretty optimistic." Osaka, who opens her Doha campaign against 15th seed Garcia later on Monday, said she preferred to face tough opponents like the Frenchwoman. "I learn more from the matches. So of course it's funny to hear I'm playing her again but I'm a little happy," Osaka said. "She's always been a really nice person and I know I'm not supposed to think that about my opponent, but I know we also share the same birthday. At the end of the day, a Libran is going to win."

Tennis: Naomi Osaka optimistic despite string of defeats following return ahead of Qatar Open

Newly crowned Qatar Open champion Iga Swiatek lent her support to the people in Ukraine following Russia's invasion, saying she found it hard to picture a conflict so close to her homeland.

Poland's Swiatek stormed to a 6-2 6-0 victory in the Doha final, beating fourth seed Anett Kontaveit in 64 minutes on Saturday and ending the Estonian's nine-match win streak.

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"I want to show my support to all the people who are suffering in Ukraine," an emotional Swiatek, on the verge of tears, said on court following her victory.

"Seeing those images is really emotional for me. I wouldn't even imagine stuff like that happening in the country next to me. I hope everybody will be safe in the end."

Newly crowned Qatar Open champion Iga Swiatek lent her support to the people in Ukraine following Russia's invasion, saying she found it hard to picture a conflict so close to her homeland.

Newly crowned Qatar Open champion Iga Swiatek lent her support to the people in Ukraine following Russia's invasion, saying she found it hard to picture a conflict so close to her homeland. Poland's Swiatek stormed to a 6-2 6-0 victory in the Doha final, beating fourth seed Anett Kontaveit in 64 minutes on Saturday and ending the Estonian's nine-match win streak. ALSO READ: Mexican Open: Rafael Nadal beats Britain's Cameron Norrie to win his 91st ATP title "I want to show my support to all the people who are suffering in Ukraine," an emotional Swiatek, on the verge of tears, said on court following her victory. "Seeing those images is really emotional for me. I wouldn't even imagine stuff like that happening in the country next to me. I hope everybody will be safe in the end."

Emotional Iga Swiatek voices support for Ukraine after clinching Qatar Open title

Roger Federer played his first match for over a year Wednesday as the Swiss 20-time Grand Slam champion returned from injury to take on British number one Dan Evans at the Qatar Open in Doha.

Federer, who underwent two knee surgeries in 2020, won the toss and elected to serve first after joking with the umpire about the rules of the game.

He received a rapturous welcome from the 20 percent-capacity crowd at Doha's Khalifa Tennis Complex, beaming back at the crowd.

The 39-year-old initially pulled ahead winning his service game which was tempered by Evans also winning his opening service game.

Federer hasn't played a match since a semi-final defeat by Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open in January 2020 and acknowledged it was unusual for a player of his age to return after injury.

"I know it's on the rare side for a 40-year-old to come back after a year out," he said at a media briefing in the Qatari capital Doha Sunday.

"I feel there is still something -- retirement was never really on the cards."

While he was out of action, he saw Rafael Nadal equal his record Grand Slam title haul with a 13th Roland Garros triumph.

Djokovic, meanwhile, captured a ninth Australian Open last month to take his career Slam tally to 18.

Roger Federer played his first match for over a year Wednesday as the Swiss 20-time Grand Slam champion returned from injury to take on British number one Dan Evans at the Qatar Open in Doha.

Roger Federer played his first match for over a year Wednesday as the Swiss 20-time Grand Slam champion returned from injury to take on British number one Dan Evans at the Qatar Open in Doha. Federer, who underwent two knee surgeries in 2020, won the toss and elected to serve first after joking with the umpire about the rules of the game. He received a rapturous welcome from the 20 percent-capacity crowd at Doha's Khalifa Tennis Complex, beaming back at the crowd. The 39-year-old initially pulled ahead winning his service game which was tempered by Evans also winning his opening service game. Federer hasn't played a match since a semi-final defeat by Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open in January 2020 and acknowledged it was unusual for a player of his age to return after injury. "I know it's on the rare side for a 40-year-old to come back after a year out," he said at a media briefing in the Qatari capital Doha Sunday. "I feel there is still something -- retirement was never really on the cards." While he was out of action, he saw Rafael Nadal equal his record Grand Slam title haul with a 13th Roland Garros triumph. Djokovic, meanwhile, captured a ninth Australian Open last month to take his career Slam tally to 18.

Roger Federer plays first match for over a year

Belgium's Elise Mertens claimed the biggest win of her career on Saturday, surprisingly coming from a set down to beat world number three Simona Halep and clinch the Qatar Open.

The world number 21 won 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, despite being outclassed in the first set, overcoming an eight-minute medical timeout for back pain in the second set, and losing 18 consecutive points at one stage in the match.

"It's a big moment for me, getting that victory," said a jubilant Mertens, 23, afterwards.

"I think this one would be, especially also with my tennis I played, the nicest one, nicest victory."&nbsp;

Her win, in a little over two hours, was her third victory over a top ten player in Doha this week, and her second over a Grand Slam champion.

Halep is the reigning French Open champion and Angelique Kerber, who she beat in the semi-finals, holds the Wimbledon title.

Qatar is the fifth title of Mertens' career but notably her first at a Premier-level event. She said it outshone her achievement in getting to the Australian Open semi-finals in 2018.

Mertens started nervously, lost her opening service game, and the first set in just 32 minutes.

At 2-0 down in the second, it looked like it was going to turn into a routine victory for Halep.

"I couldn't say I was really nervous," she added, "but I think my shots went long. "So, I really had to accelerate a little bit better to keep it in the court."&nbsp;

Mertens broke back, then called for medical attention and was the stronger player for the remainder of the game.

She could rise as high number 16 in the next rankings because of her victory in Doha.&nbsp;

Coincidentally her ranking of 21 coming into the tournament was exactly the same as last year's winner in Doha, Petra Kvitova.

'I didn't have a chance'&nbsp;

A clearly fading Halep, who played in the Fed Cup last weekend when she led Romania into the semi-finals for the first time, also called for medical assistance for treatment to a blister on her right foot.

"I was really tired in the third set, I couldn't have the chance to win this match," said Halep, who won the Qatar title in 2014.

"I had to be 100% to be able to win such a big match. But she deserved to win, she was stronger, she was fresher. I'm not making a drama."&nbsp;

Halep added that she "needed rest", but would definitely play in Dubai next week. Despite her defeat, the Romanian will head back to number two in the rankings on the back of her performances in Doha.&nbsp;

Belgium's Elise Mertens claimed the biggest win of her career on Saturday, surprisingly coming from a set down to beat world number three Simona Halep and clinch the Qatar Open.

Belgium's Elise Mertens claimed the biggest win of her career on Saturday, surprisingly coming from a set down to beat world number three Simona Halep and clinch the Qatar Open. The world number 21 won 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, despite being outclassed in the first set, overcoming an eight-minute medical timeout for back pain in the second set, and losing 18 consecutive points at one stage in the match. "It's a big moment for me, getting that victory," said a jubilant Mertens, 23, afterwards. "I think this one would be, especially also with my tennis I played, the nicest one, nicest victory." Her win, in a little over two hours, was her third victory over a top ten player in Doha this week, and her second over a Grand Slam champion. Halep is the reigning French Open champion and Angelique Kerber, who she beat in the semi-finals, holds the Wimbledon title. Qatar is the fifth title of Mertens' career but notably her first at a Premier-level event. She said it outshone her achievement in getting to the Australian Open semi-finals in 2018. Mertens started nervously, lost her opening service game, and the first set in just 32 minutes. At 2-0 down in the second, it looked like it was going to turn into a routine victory for Halep. "I couldn't say I was really nervous," she added, "but I think my shots went long. "So, I really had to accelerate a little bit better to keep it in the court." Mertens broke back, then called for medical attention and was the stronger player for the remainder of the game. She could rise as high number 16 in the next rankings because of her victory in Doha. Coincidentally her ranking of 21 coming into the tournament was exactly the same as last year's winner in Doha, Petra Kvitova. 'I didn't have a chance' A clearly fading Halep, who played in the Fed Cup last weekend when she led Romania into the semi-finals for the first time, also called for medical assistance for treatment to a blister on her right foot. "I was really tired in the third set, I couldn't have the chance to win this match," said Halep, who won the Qatar title in 2014. "I had to be 100% to be able to win such a big match. But she deserved to win, she was stronger, she was fresher. I'm not making a drama." Halep added that she "needed rest", but would definitely play in Dubai next week. Despite her defeat, the Romanian will head back to number two in the rankings on the back of her performances in Doha.

Belgium's Mertens shrugs off back pain to beat Simona Halep for Qatar Open title

Top seed Simona Halep came back from 4-1 down in the deciding set to beat Elina Svitolina 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in the Qatar Open semi-final on Friday, marking her first victory over the Ukrainian in nearly two years.

Halep made an aggressive start and claimed an early break with a scorching backhand winner to set the tone for the evening.

The Romanian clinched the opening set before WTA Finals champion Svitolina upped her aggression from the baseline to snatch a break for 2-1 lead in the second set.

After bagging the second set, Svitolina claimed an early break again in the final set, while also frustrating her opponent with her relentless court coverage.

Seeking another break of serve to close out the match, Svitolina came out on top in several high-octane rallies during an eight-minute sixth game and held three break points for a 5-1 lead in the final set.

But Halep summoned her powers of recovery to fend off all three points and went on to clinch five straight games en route a remarkable victory.

Halep last defeated Svitolina in the 2017 French Open quarter-finals, and since then had not won a set in their following three encounters.

The 2014 Doha champion was pleased to set the record straight to move into her first final of the season.

"I'm happy because I didn't give up... The two finals that I played against her in Rome I gave up and I was not ready to fight," said Halep, who will face unseeded Belgian Elise Mertens in Saturday's final.

"Now I change that, and it makes me happier, because I showed myself that I'm able to do that."

"The mental part is really important... but definitely today I was stronger physically as well, because against Svitolina (it) is never easy to win a match. She's very strong on the legs."

Mertens scored her second top 10 victory of the week as she battled past three-times Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber 6-4, 2-6, 6-1.

Mertens, who defeated fifth seed Kiki Bertens in the quarter-final, has failed to win a set against Halep in her previous two meetings -- both on clay last year.

Top seed Simona Halep came back from 4-1 down in the deciding set to beat Elina Svitolina 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in the Qatar Open semi-final on Friday, marking her first victory over the Ukrainian in nearly two years.

Top seed Simona Halep came back from 4-1 down in the deciding set to beat Elina Svitolina 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in the Qatar Open semi-final on Friday, marking her first victory over the Ukrainian in nearly two years. Halep made an aggressive start and claimed an early break with a scorching backhand winner to set the tone for the evening. The Romanian clinched the opening set before WTA Finals champion Svitolina upped her aggression from the baseline to snatch a break for 2-1 lead in the second set. After bagging the second set, Svitolina claimed an early break again in the final set, while also frustrating her opponent with her relentless court coverage. Seeking another break of serve to close out the match, Svitolina came out on top in several high-octane rallies during an eight-minute sixth game and held three break points for a 5-1 lead in the final set. But Halep summoned her powers of recovery to fend off all three points and went on to clinch five straight games en route a remarkable victory. Halep last defeated Svitolina in the 2017 French Open quarter-finals, and since then had not won a set in their following three encounters. The 2014 Doha champion was pleased to set the record straight to move into her first final of the season. "I'm happy because I didn't give up... The two finals that I played against her in Rome I gave up and I was not ready to fight," said Halep, who will face unseeded Belgian Elise Mertens in Saturday's final. "Now I change that, and it makes me happier, because I showed myself that I'm able to do that." "The mental part is really important... but definitely today I was stronger physically as well, because against Svitolina (it) is never easy to win a match. She's very strong on the legs." Mertens scored her second top 10 victory of the week as she battled past three-times Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber 6-4, 2-6, 6-1. Mertens, who defeated fifth seed Kiki Bertens in the quarter-final, has failed to win a set against Halep in her previous two meetings -- both on clay last year.

Simona Halep outlasts Elina Svitolina in Doha thriller, faces Mertens in final

Top seed Simona Halep eased into the Qatar Open quarter-finals with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko on Wednesday.

Fresh from helping Romania reach their first Fed Cup semi-final, Halep made a blistering start by racing into a 5-0 lead in the opening set.

She held off a brief challenge from Tsurenko in the second set before reeling off the last five games of the match to improve her head-to-head record against her opponent to 6-0.

World number three Halep, who received a bye in the opening round, will next face ninth seed Julia Goerges.

The German battled past American lucky loser Alison Riske 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-4 in a marathon encounter, recovering from 4-2 down in the final set.

Fourth seed Elina Svitolina began her campaign with a 6-4, 6-4 win over 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, avenging her two previous losses to the Latvian.

A neck injury has hampered the Ukrainian, who was playing her first match since the Australian Open quarter-final defeat by eventual champion Naomi Osaka of Japan in January.

"I have been struggling since the Australian Open with my neck," Svitolina said after the match.

"It depends... on the practice, on the match, what I have, so it's tough to tell how I'm going to feel tomorrow, but every single day I try to get a treatment, I try to get some work done, and, you know, it's just a process."

There were moments in the match when Ostapenko was unplayable as she unleashed aggressive forehands from the baseline to recover from early breaks of serve in both sets.

But Svitolina maintained her service rhythm to ensure she controlled the match in the critical moments and went on to convert five break points en route a convincing victory.

"The ball is flying and the wind is very tricky, so I had to be extremely quick with my feet. In the end I was very pleased that I could finish in two sets," added Svitolina, who will meet Czech qualifier Karolina Muchova in the quarter-finals.

Earlier on Wednesday, Czech Karolina Pliskova was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a viral illness.

The 2017 Doha champion is the fifth withdrawal since the draw was made following Danish sixth seed Caroline Wozniacki (viral illness) and France's Caroline Garcia (leg injury).

Top seed Simona Halep eased into the Qatar Open quarter-finals with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko on Wednesday. Fresh from helping Romania reach their first Fed Cup semi-final, Halep made a blistering start by racing into a 5-0 lead in the opening set.

Top seed Simona Halep eased into the Qatar Open quarter-finals with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko on Wednesday. Fresh from helping Romania reach their first Fed Cup semi-final, Halep made a blistering start by racing into a 5-0 lead in the opening set. She held off a brief challenge from Tsurenko in the second set before reeling off the last five games of the match to improve her head-to-head record against her opponent to 6-0. World number three Halep, who received a bye in the opening round, will next face ninth seed Julia Goerges. The German battled past American lucky loser Alison Riske 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-4 in a marathon encounter, recovering from 4-2 down in the final set. Fourth seed Elina Svitolina began her campaign with a 6-4, 6-4 win over 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, avenging her two previous losses to the Latvian. A neck injury has hampered the Ukrainian, who was playing her first match since the Australian Open quarter-final defeat by eventual champion Naomi Osaka of Japan in January. "I have been struggling since the Australian Open with my neck," Svitolina said after the match. "It depends... on the practice, on the match, what I have, so it's tough to tell how I'm going to feel tomorrow, but every single day I try to get a treatment, I try to get some work done, and, you know, it's just a process." There were moments in the match when Ostapenko was unplayable as she unleashed aggressive forehands from the baseline to recover from early breaks of serve in both sets. But Svitolina maintained her service rhythm to ensure she controlled the match in the critical moments and went on to convert five break points en route a convincing victory. "The ball is flying and the wind is very tricky, so I had to be extremely quick with my feet. In the end I was very pleased that I could finish in two sets," added Svitolina, who will meet Czech qualifier Karolina Muchova in the quarter-finals. Earlier on Wednesday, Czech Karolina Pliskova was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a viral illness. The 2017 Doha champion is the fifth withdrawal since the draw was made following Danish sixth seed Caroline Wozniacki (viral illness) and France's Caroline Garcia (leg injury).

Simona Halep, Elina Svitolina cruise into Qatar Open quarters

Former world number one Simona Halep has appointed Thierry Van Cleemput as her new coach and will officially begin working with the Belgian at next week's Qatar Open.

Halep had planned to fly solo for the first few months of 2019 after former coach Darren Cahill left to spend more time with his family in Australia.

French Open champion Halep began speaking with Van Cleemput at last month's Australian Open after he split with world number 21 David Goffin midway through the tournament, according to a report on the WTA website.

Van Cleemput had worked with his compatriot for the last five years, overseeing Goffin's rise to the top-10.

World number three Halep, whose pre-season was shortened due to a back issue, made the fourth round at Melbourne Park where she lost to American Serena Williams in three sets.

Halep will represent Romania in their Fed Cup tie against Czech Republic in Ostrava this weekend before tournaments in Doha and Dubai.

Former world number one Simona Halep has appointed Thierry Van Cleemput as her new coach and will officially begin working with the Belgian at next week's Qatar Open.

Former world number one Simona Halep has appointed Thierry Van Cleemput as her new coach and will officially begin working with the Belgian at next week's Qatar Open. Halep had planned to fly solo for the first few months of 2019 after former coach Darren Cahill left to spend more time with his family in Australia. French Open champion Halep began speaking with Van Cleemput at last month's Australian Open after he split with world number 21 David Goffin midway through the tournament, according to a report on the WTA website. Van Cleemput had worked with his compatriot for the last five years, overseeing Goffin's rise to the top-10. World number three Halep, whose pre-season was shortened due to a back issue, made the fourth round at Melbourne Park where she lost to American Serena Williams in three sets. Halep will represent Romania in their Fed Cup tie against Czech Republic in Ostrava this weekend before tournaments in Doha and Dubai.

Simona Halep appoints Belgian Van Cleemput as new coach

Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut overcame a mid-match scare to overcome Tomas Berdych 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the Qatar Open final on Saturday for his ninth career title.

A day after outclassing world number one Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the season-opening event, Bautista Agut came through another three-setter for his first title in Doha.

The world number 24 saved five out of six break points and converted two of his own in a tight final to see off Berdych, who was seeking his first ATP title since 2016, in a little under two hours.

"It's been a fantastic week for me," Bautista Agut, who endured some nervy moments in the decider, said. "Today it wasn't easy to manage the emotions I had on court."

The 30-year-old will look to carry the momentum forward to the Auckland Classic next week in his final warm-up event before the Australian Open which begins in Melbourne on Jan. 14.

Bautista Agut is looking to avoid another early exit in the season's first Grand Slam, having lost to compatriot Fernando Verdasco in the opening round last year.

Berdych, fighting fit again after a back injury, was pleased with his effort in his first tournament since the Queen's Club championships in London last June.

"Roberto was too good, so well done for the title today, but I am happy for the week," the world number 71 added.

Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut overcame a mid-match scare to overcome Tomas Berdych 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the Qatar Open final on Saturday for his ninth career title. A day after outclassing world number one Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the season-opening event, Bautista Agut came through another three-setter for his first title in Doha.

Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut overcame a mid-match scare to overcome Tomas Berdych 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the Qatar Open final on Saturday for his ninth career title. A day after outclassing world number one Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the season-opening event, Bautista Agut came through another three-setter for his first title in Doha. The world number 24 saved five out of six break points and converted two of his own in a tight final to see off Berdych, who was seeking his first ATP title since 2016, in a little under two hours. "It's been a fantastic week for me," Bautista Agut, who endured some nervy moments in the decider, said. "Today it wasn't easy to manage the emotions I had on court." The 30-year-old will look to carry the momentum forward to the Auckland Classic next week in his final warm-up event before the Australian Open which begins in Melbourne on Jan. 14. Bautista Agut is looking to avoid another early exit in the season's first Grand Slam, having lost to compatriot Fernando Verdasco in the opening round last year. Berdych, fighting fit again after a back injury, was pleased with his effort in his first tournament since the Queen's Club championships in London last June. "Roberto was too good, so well done for the title today, but I am happy for the week," the world number 71 added.

Bautista Agut overcomes Tomas Berdych to lift Doha trophy

Novak Djokovic lost surprisingly in Doha on Friday, beaten in the Qatar Open semi-final by world number 24, Roberto Bautista Agut, 6-3, 6-7 (8/6), 6-4.

The Serb fell to his first defeat of the season in a high-quality contest lasting more than two-and-a-half hours, which saw the Spaniard lose his first set of the week but come back to beat the world number one.

"What happened? I lost the match. That's it," a clearly frustrated Djokovic said in his post-match press conference.

Agut took Djokovic's serve in the second game of the final set for the decisive break and secured victory on his first match point.

"I will remember this match for [the rest] of my life," said the 30-year-old Spaniard.

He will play the Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych in Saturday's final.&nbsp;

"I can't be more happy than I am now."

It is the second time he has beaten Djokovic in his career and both victories occurred in a semi-final.

The first came in October 2016 in Shanghai. Djokovic was also world number one at that stage.

Bautista Agut said Friday's victory was the better of the two.

"I think today the match was better, the level of the tennis today was very high," he said.&nbsp;

"We both played very good tennis and it was also more tight on the score and more emotions and today was a really good match."

A fired-up Djokovic smashed his racquet after dropping his serve in the eighth game of the second set.

"I thought I was pretty much in control of the match, set and a break, serving 4-3," Djokovic said.&nbsp;

"He played a good game. I missed some easy balls and that's what you get as a result of losing the focus in the most important moments and it happens, it happens."

Questions may be asked about how tired the Serb was, as he played two matches each day for three days in singles and doubles, prior to Friday's defeat.

Including the meeting with Bautista Agut, Djokovic spent almost 10 hours on court in three days and played 11 sets in singles' matches.

Asked if he had done too much through the week, he replied: "I wasn't the freshest, you know.&nbsp;

"This is what I was looking forward to, to get from this tournament, as many matches as possible, to get ready for the Australian Open, so I'm very pleased.&nbsp;

"Obviously, I'm not pleased that I lost the match today, but I lost to a better player in the end."&nbsp;

The second semi-final proved a much tamer affair.

Berdych eased through to his second Doha final in straight sets, beating Italy's Marco Cecchinato 7-6 (8/6), 6-3.

Currently the world number 73, Berdych was once ranked number four.

His previous Qatar Open final, in 2015, was also against a Spaniard, David Ferrer. It ended in a straight sets defeat.

Novak Djokovic lost surprisingly in Doha on Friday, beaten in the Qatar Open semi-final by world number 24, Roberto Bautista Agut, 6-3, 6-7 (8/6), 6-4. The Serb fell to his first defeat of the season in a high-quality contest lasting more than two-and-a-half hours, which saw the Spaniard lose his first set of the week but come back to beat the world number one.

Novak Djokovic lost surprisingly in Doha on Friday, beaten in the Qatar Open semi-final by world number 24, Roberto Bautista Agut, 6-3, 6-7 (8/6), 6-4. The Serb fell to his first defeat of the season in a high-quality contest lasting more than two-and-a-half hours, which saw the Spaniard lose his first set of the week but come back to beat the world number one. "What happened? I lost the match. That's it," a clearly frustrated Djokovic said in his post-match press conference. Agut took Djokovic's serve in the second game of the final set for the decisive break and secured victory on his first match point. "I will remember this match for [the rest] of my life," said the 30-year-old Spaniard. He will play the Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych in Saturday's final. "I can't be more happy than I am now." It is the second time he has beaten Djokovic in his career and both victories occurred in a semi-final. The first came in October 2016 in Shanghai. Djokovic was also world number one at that stage. Bautista Agut said Friday's victory was the better of the two. "I think today the match was better, the level of the tennis today was very high," he said. "We both played very good tennis and it was also more tight on the score and more emotions and today was a really good match." A fired-up Djokovic smashed his racquet after dropping his serve in the eighth game of the second set. "I thought I was pretty much in control of the match, set and a break, serving 4-3," Djokovic said. "He played a good game. I missed some easy balls and that's what you get as a result of losing the focus in the most important moments and it happens, it happens." Questions may be asked about how tired the Serb was, as he played two matches each day for three days in singles and doubles, prior to Friday's defeat. Including the meeting with Bautista Agut, Djokovic spent almost 10 hours on court in three days and played 11 sets in singles' matches. Asked if he had done too much through the week, he replied: "I wasn't the freshest, you know. "This is what I was looking forward to, to get from this tournament, as many matches as possible, to get ready for the Australian Open, so I'm very pleased. "Obviously, I'm not pleased that I lost the match today, but I lost to a better player in the end." The second semi-final proved a much tamer affair. Berdych eased through to his second Doha final in straight sets, beating Italy's Marco Cecchinato 7-6 (8/6), 6-3. Currently the world number 73, Berdych was once ranked number four. His previous Qatar Open final, in 2015, was also against a Spaniard, David Ferrer. It ended in a straight sets defeat.

Novak Djokovic crashes out of Qatar Open after losing to Bautista Agut

Top-seed Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic on Thursday had to sweat more than expected to defeat Georgia's Nikoloz Basilashvili 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, booking a place in the semifinal of the Qatar Open, a tuning-up event for the Australian Open.&nbsp;

For the second time in a row, Djokovic, a two-time Qatar Open champion, found himself trailing by a set, but his timely reaction kept his bid for his 73rd ATP title alive.

"I thought Basilashvili was playing terrific from the beginning. I expected him to. I knew that he's playing probably the tennis of his life in the past 10 months, and he's definitely one of the greatest hitters in the game," Djokovic said after the nearly two-hour game.

Basilashvili gave a glance of the tennis that led him to win his maiden ATP title in 2018 as he grabbed a 4-1 lead and went on to clinch the set a few games later, despite conceding his delivery once.

The second set was a new start for the Serbian 14-time Grand Slam champion as he turned up the heat by breaking his opponent's first serve and managing to maintain the lead until the end of the set, although he had to save a break point while serving for the set.

It seemed like Basilashvili crumbled under pressure in a third seesaw set in which both players swapped service breaks at the beginning, but then Djokovic outpaced his opponent with a break in the fifth game that proved to be decisive.

Djokovic is scheduled to take on Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, the seventh seed, who saw off Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 6-4, 6-4 earlier in the day.

Top-seed Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic on Thursday had to sweat more than expected to defeat Georgia's Nikoloz Basilashvili 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, booking a place in the semifinal of the Qatar Open, a tuning-up event for the Australian Open.

Top-seed Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic on Thursday had to sweat more than expected to defeat Georgia's Nikoloz Basilashvili 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, booking a place in the semifinal of the Qatar Open, a tuning-up event for the Australian Open. For the second time in a row, Djokovic, a two-time Qatar Open champion, found himself trailing by a set, but his timely reaction kept his bid for his 73rd ATP title alive. "I thought Basilashvili was playing terrific from the beginning. I expected him to. I knew that he's playing probably the tennis of his life in the past 10 months, and he's definitely one of the greatest hitters in the game," Djokovic said after the nearly two-hour game. Basilashvili gave a glance of the tennis that led him to win his maiden ATP title in 2018 as he grabbed a 4-1 lead and went on to clinch the set a few games later, despite conceding his delivery once. The second set was a new start for the Serbian 14-time Grand Slam champion as he turned up the heat by breaking his opponent's first serve and managing to maintain the lead until the end of the set, although he had to save a break point while serving for the set. It seemed like Basilashvili crumbled under pressure in a third seesaw set in which both players swapped service breaks at the beginning, but then Djokovic outpaced his opponent with a break in the fifth game that proved to be decisive. Djokovic is scheduled to take on Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, the seventh seed, who saw off Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 6-4, 6-4 earlier in the day.

Novak Djokovic battles past Basilashvili to face Bautista Agut in Qatar Open semis

Petra Kvitova fought back from a set down against Garbine Muguruza on Sunday to win the Qatar Open, a victory which will take her back into the world&#39;s top 10.

Kvitova overcame an awful start which saw her lose the first five games to eventually triumph 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

It is the first time Kvitova has been ranked among the world&#39;s elite since a horrific knife attack at her home in December 2016 left her with an injured hand.

&quot;It feels great, it&#39;s a beautiful trophy,&quot; she said. &quot;It took a while to have it. Today, it was a big fight.&quot;

Asked about being back in the top 10, Kvitova replied: &quot;I remember sometime last year when I was asked about this, I couldn&#39;t even dream of it,&quot; she said. &quot;It&#39;s a very special feeling to be back.&quot;

Questioned if it felt more special because of the circumstances of her comeback, she added: &quot;It&#39;s something that&#39;s amazing, let&#39;s say. I couldn&#39;t really wish for more.&quot;

The win in Doha is the Czech star&#39;s second title of the season and 22nd career tournament victory.&nbsp;

It also extended her current winning streak to 13 matches, just one short of her career record.

She also beat four players in the top 10 this week in Doha, including world number one Caroline Wozniacki, to take the title.

Kvitova began the year ranked number 29 but was already on the rise after her win earlier this month in St Petersburg.

Her shaky start in Sunday&#39;s final extended to the second set, where Muguruza had break points in three separate service games.

She was unable to convert though and gradually Kvitova began to dominate and then broke the Spaniard&#39;s serve to edge ahead 4-2.

The third set followed a similar pattern, with Muguruza still having chances and even failing to take three break points in the fourth game of the decider.

It proved to be fatal as Kvitova not only held her serve but immediately broke the Spaniard&#39;s to take a lead in the match for the first time - an advantage she never relinquished.

In total, Kvitova faced 11 break points, but only lost her serve in the first set.

Muguruza -- who had an extra day to prepare for the final after receiving a bye in the semi-final -- finished the game with heavy strapping on her left knee, which she said was down to a &quot;weird movement&quot; but was hopeful there was no serious problem.

&quot;I think I had a lot of break points and I didn&#39;t convert them,&quot; said Muguruza.&nbsp;

&quot;I think also because she came out with all those winners. But yeah, I think if I would have got one of those break points it would be different.&quot;&nbsp;

Despite the defeat, Muguruza will move up one position in the rankings, making her the world number three.

&nbsp;

Kvitova overcame an awful start which saw her lose the first five games to eventually triumph 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

Petra Kvitova fought back from a set down against Garbine Muguruza on Sunday to win the Qatar Open, a victory which will take her back into the world's top 10. Kvitova overcame an awful start which saw her lose the first five games to eventually triumph 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. It is the first time Kvitova has been ranked among the world's elite since a horrific knife attack at her home in December 2016 left her with an injured hand. "It feels great, it's a beautiful trophy," she said. "It took a while to have it. Today, it was a big fight." Asked about being back in the top 10, Kvitova replied: "I remember sometime last year when I was asked about this, I couldn't even dream of it," she said. "It's a very special feeling to be back." Questioned if it felt more special because of the circumstances of her comeback, she added: "It's something that's amazing, let's say. I couldn't really wish for more." The win in Doha is the Czech star's second title of the season and 22nd career tournament victory. It also extended her current winning streak to 13 matches, just one short of her career record. She also beat four players in the top 10 this week in Doha, including world number one Caroline Wozniacki, to take the title. Kvitova began the year ranked number 29 but was already on the rise after her win earlier this month in St Petersburg. Her shaky start in Sunday's final extended to the second set, where Muguruza had break points in three separate service games. She was unable to convert though and gradually Kvitova began to dominate and then broke the Spaniard's serve to edge ahead 4-2. The third set followed a similar pattern, with Muguruza still having chances and even failing to take three break points in the fourth game of the decider. It proved to be fatal as Kvitova not only held her serve but immediately broke the Spaniard's to take a lead in the match for the first time - an advantage she never relinquished. In total, Kvitova faced 11 break points, but only lost her serve in the first set. Muguruza -- who had an extra day to prepare for the final after receiving a bye in the semi-final -- finished the game with heavy strapping on her left knee, which she said was down to a "weird movement" but was hopeful there was no serious problem. "I think I had a lot of break points and I didn't convert them," said Muguruza. "I think also because she came out with all those winners. But yeah, I think if I would have got one of those break points it would be different." Despite the defeat, Muguruza will move up one position in the rankings, making her the world number three.

Kvitova takes Qatar title to clinch top 10 return

Simona Halep&#39;s injury-plagued start to the season continued Friday as a lingering foot injury forced her out of the Qatar Open, as Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the semis and ensured she kept her world number one ranking.

A clearly frustrated Halep said she needed further time away from the game to recuperate despite a straights sets victory in her quarter-final against American teenage qualifier, Catherine Bellis, 6-0 6-4.

On a dramatic night in Doha, Wozniacki won 7-6 (7/4), 1-6, 6-3 against Germany&#39;s Angelique Kerber to progress to the last four, a result which also means she becomes just the fourth woman in history to pass $30 million in tennis prize money.

Meanwhile, Germany&#39;s Julia Georges was forced to retire through injury when she was 6-4, 2-1 down to Petra Kvitova.

And Garbine Muguruza was handed a walkover to the final -- and will get a day&#39;s rest -- because of the withdrawal of Halep, after beating France&#39;s Caroline Garcia 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.

But it was the blow to the world number two which was the main talking point of the night.

The injury to her right foot had forced out of the game since the Australian Open, where she lost the final to Wozniacki.

Doha represented Halep&#39;s comeback after she also withdrew from a Fed Cup tie earlier this month.

Earlier in the week, Halep admitted she was worried about the injury flaring up again and despite her victory on Friday, she admitted it would once again sideline her.

&quot;I withdraw because I cannot play anymore and it&#39;s going to be dangerous if I force it,&quot; she told reporters.

&quot;Today it was worse, and that&#39;s why I took this decision. It&#39;s not easy, but I talked to my doctor. He said that I didn&#39;t have enough time to recover.

&quot;The MRI shows that I have fluid and also tendonitis at the fourth toe.&nbsp;

&quot;So I have just to take care of it and thinking about the health first.&quot;

Halep added she would not return to action until Indian Wells at the earliest, which begins early next month.

By contrast, Wozniacki, continued her sensational start to the season beating two-time Grand Slam winner Kerber in three sets. Wozniacki hit 46 winners in the process.

Asked about keeping her place at the top of the world rankings, she replied: &quot;It feels good, but honestly I&#39;m just happy to have won today.&nbsp;

&quot;I&#39;m more interested in that. And then whatever happens happens.&quot;

Wozniacki admitted she was envious of Muguruza&#39;s bye to the final.

&quot;I wish I had a day off tomorrow,&quot; she said.

Kvitova&#39;s hot streak

Wozniacki will play Kvitova in the last four on Saturday. It is the fourth time they will have met in a semi-final, the Czech winning all three previous encounters.

With nine of the world&#39;s top 10 women players in Doha this week, Kvitova has passed under the radar somewhat but has now won 11 consecutive matches, the second highest streak of her career.

World number four Muguruza beat France&#39;s Caroline Garcia 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 to book her place in Sunday&#39;s final.

The Spaniard said it was the best she had played so far this season.

&quot;I&#39;m happy overall with the match because even though in the first set she played very well, you know, this kind of game and match changes a lot,&quot; said Muguruza.

&nbsp;

Wozniacki won 7-6 (7/4), 1-6, 6-3 against Germany's Angelique Kerber to progress to the last four

Simona Halep's injury-plagued start to the season continued Friday as a lingering foot injury forced her out of the Qatar Open, as Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the semis and ensured she kept her world number one ranking. A clearly frustrated Halep said she needed further time away from the game to recuperate despite a straights sets victory in her quarter-final against American teenage qualifier, Catherine Bellis, 6-0 6-4. On a dramatic night in Doha, Wozniacki won 7-6 (7/4), 1-6, 6-3 against Germany's Angelique Kerber to progress to the last four, a result which also means she becomes just the fourth woman in history to pass $30 million in tennis prize money. Meanwhile, Germany's Julia Georges was forced to retire through injury when she was 6-4, 2-1 down to Petra Kvitova. And Garbine Muguruza was handed a walkover to the final -- and will get a day's rest -- because of the withdrawal of Halep, after beating France's Caroline Garcia 6-3, 1-6, 6-4. But it was the blow to the world number two which was the main talking point of the night. The injury to her right foot had forced out of the game since the Australian Open, where she lost the final to Wozniacki. Doha represented Halep's comeback after she also withdrew from a Fed Cup tie earlier this month. Earlier in the week, Halep admitted she was worried about the injury flaring up again and despite her victory on Friday, she admitted it would once again sideline her. "I withdraw because I cannot play anymore and it's going to be dangerous if I force it," she told reporters. "Today it was worse, and that's why I took this decision. It's not easy, but I talked to my doctor. He said that I didn't have enough time to recover. "The MRI shows that I have fluid and also tendonitis at the fourth toe. "So I have just to take care of it and thinking about the health first." Halep added she would not return to action until Indian Wells at the earliest, which begins early next month. By contrast, Wozniacki, continued her sensational start to the season beating two-time Grand Slam winner Kerber in three sets. Wozniacki hit 46 winners in the process. Asked about keeping her place at the top of the world rankings, she replied: "It feels good, but honestly I'm just happy to have won today. "I'm more interested in that. And then whatever happens happens." Wozniacki admitted she was envious of Muguruza's bye to the final. "I wish I had a day off tomorrow," she said. Kvitova's hot streak Wozniacki will play Kvitova in the last four on Saturday. It is the fourth time they will have met in a semi-final, the Czech winning all three previous encounters. With nine of the world's top 10 women players in Doha this week, Kvitova has passed under the radar somewhat but has now won 11 consecutive matches, the second highest streak of her career. World number four Muguruza beat France's Caroline Garcia 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 to book her place in Sunday's final. The Spaniard said it was the best she had played so far this season. "I'm happy overall with the match because even though in the first set she played very well, you know, this kind of game and match changes a lot," said Muguruza.

Halep injury woe continues as Wozniacki marches on in Qatar

Former world number one Novak Djokovic today withdrew from next week&#39;s Qatar Open, casting doubt on his participation at the Australian Open later in January.

Qatar is the second tournament Djokovic has pulled out in as many days due to a niggling elbow injury.

The 12-time Grand Slam champion was the top seed in Doha, but in a statement, he said he would not be able to defend the title he won by beating Andy Murray last year.

His withdrawal comes just 24 hours after the injury forced him to drop out of an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi.

&quot;Unfortunately, the situation with the elbow has not changed for the better since yesterday,&quot; said Djokovic.

&quot;I still feel the pain. Therefore, I will have to withdraw from (the) ATP tournament in Doha.&quot;

The Serb added: &quot;Only when I&#39;m 100 per cent ready to play, I will be able to come back.

&quot;I hope it will be soon. I want to thank everyone for patience and understanding.&quot;

The latest announcement raises fresh doubts over the long-term future of the 30-year-old and more immediately his availability for the first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open, which begins on January 15.

In recent years, Djokovic has used the Qatar tournament as a valuable warm-up for the Australian Open.

In 2016, after beating Rafa Nadal in the Qatar final he went on to claim his sixth Australian title.

Last year in Doha, he ended then world number one Murray&#39;s 28-match winning streak to claim his second Qatar title in a riveting final.

Djokovic was targeting Doha as his first match since his quarter-finals loss at Wimbledon in July this year.

Austria&#39;s Dominic Thiem, world ranked number five, has now been made the Qatar Open number one seed.

The draw for the tournament takes place later on Saturday.

Qatar Open tournament director admitted Djokovic &#39;will surely be missed&#39;.&nbsp;

It is the 2nd tournament Djokovic has pulled out in as many days due to a niggling elbow injury

Former world number one Novak Djokovic today withdrew from next week's Qatar Open, casting doubt on his participation at the Australian Open later in January. Qatar is the second tournament Djokovic has pulled out in as many days due to a niggling elbow injury. The 12-time Grand Slam champion was the top seed in Doha, but in a statement, he said he would not be able to defend the title he won by beating Andy Murray last year. His withdrawal comes just 24 hours after the injury forced him to drop out of an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi. "Unfortunately, the situation with the elbow has not changed for the better since yesterday," said Djokovic. "I still feel the pain. Therefore, I will have to withdraw from (the) ATP tournament in Doha." The Serb added: "Only when I'm 100 per cent ready to play, I will be able to come back. "I hope it will be soon. I want to thank everyone for patience and understanding." The latest announcement raises fresh doubts over the long-term future of the 30-year-old and more immediately his availability for the first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open, which begins on January 15. In recent years, Djokovic has used the Qatar tournament as a valuable warm-up for the Australian Open. In 2016, after beating Rafa Nadal in the Qatar final he went on to claim his sixth Australian title. Last year in Doha, he ended then world number one Murray's 28-match winning streak to claim his second Qatar title in a riveting final. Djokovic was targeting Doha as his first match since his quarter-finals loss at Wimbledon in July this year. Austria's Dominic Thiem, world ranked number five, has now been made the Qatar Open number one seed. The draw for the tournament takes place later on Saturday. Qatar Open tournament director admitted Djokovic 'will surely be missed'.

Australia doubts as Novak Djokovic pulls out of Qatar Open

Novak Djokovic brought world number one Andy Murray&#39;s 28-match winning streak to an end in Doha on Saturday to retain the Qatar Open title in a three-set thriller.

Serb star Djokovic won 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in a high-quality, action-packed match between the two best players in the world lasting almost three hours.

It is Djokovic&#39;s 25th career victory over Murray and puts down an early-season marker against his great British rival, before the Australian Open later this month.

&quot;Definitely one of the best ways to start a year,&quot; Djokovic said immediately after his victory.

&quot;I had three or four match points in the second set, he turned it around and I thought: Wow! I hope this isn&#39;t payback time!

&quot;He was close... all the way to the last shot you never know with Andy,&quot; added Djokovic who was penalised a point in the second set after destroying his racquet as the tension mounted.&nbsp;

Despite going into the third set showing signs of frustration and weariness, Djokovic was able to claw away any momentum Murray had to secure his second successive title in Qatar and the $209,665 first prize.

A break of Murray&#39;s serve in the seventh game of the final set -- when the Scot looked most likely to win -- proved decisive.

Serving for the match, Djokovic secured the title on his fourth match point, having squandered three in the second set when Murray astonishingly recovered from 5-4 down and 40-15 to win three games in a row and force, at that point, an unlikely deciding set.

It was Murray&#39;s first competitive defeat since losing to Juan Martin del Potro in the Davis Cup back in September.&nbsp;

In a typically cagey start between the pair, Djokovic landed the first blow with his only break point of the first set.

In the eighth game of the opener, he came back from 40-15 down to win four consecutive points and break Murray&#39;s serve.

Then, in the seventh game of the second set Djokovic broke Murray again despite falling over and banging his head during one rally.

It seemed to be the decisive blow, but Murray would not be easily brushed aside, rallying to take the game into the decider.

Missed chances

Murray said he was &quot;obviously disappointed&quot; to lose but was not too downbeat.

&quot;I think physically it was a good test to start the year,&quot; he said.

He added that he lost having failed to capitalise on his chances.

&quot;I had a break point at 3-2. In the last game, I had love-30 on Novak&#39;s serve and played a couple of loose shots. I think I had the first break point in the first set as well, didn&#39;t get it.&nbsp;

&quot;He had one and took it, that was the difference this evening.&quot;

Saturday&#39;s match was the first meeting between the pair since Murray beat the Serb at the ATP World Tour Finals in London in November, snatching Djokovic&#39;s number one ranking in the process.

It was also the 20th time Djokovic has beaten Murray after winning the first set.

Despite the defeat, Murray retains his world number one ranking.

(AFP)

Djokovic won 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in a high-quality, action-packed match between the two best players in the world lasting almost three hours

Novak Djokovic brought world number one Andy Murray's 28-match winning streak to an end in Doha on Saturday to retain the Qatar Open title in a three-set thriller. Serb star Djokovic won 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in a high-quality, action-packed match between the two best players in the world lasting almost three hours. It is Djokovic's 25th career victory over Murray and puts down an early-season marker against his great British rival, before the Australian Open later this month. "Definitely one of the best ways to start a year," Djokovic said immediately after his victory. "I had three or four match points in the second set, he turned it around and I thought: Wow! I hope this isn't payback time! "He was close... all the way to the last shot you never know with Andy," added Djokovic who was penalised a point in the second set after destroying his racquet as the tension mounted. Despite going into the third set showing signs of frustration and weariness, Djokovic was able to claw away any momentum Murray had to secure his second successive title in Qatar and the $209,665 first prize. A break of Murray's serve in the seventh game of the final set -- when the Scot looked most likely to win -- proved decisive. Serving for the match, Djokovic secured the title on his fourth match point, having squandered three in the second set when Murray astonishingly recovered from 5-4 down and 40-15 to win three games in a row and force, at that point, an unlikely deciding set. It was Murray's first competitive defeat since losing to Juan Martin del Potro in the Davis Cup back in September. In a typically cagey start between the pair, Djokovic landed the first blow with his only break point of the first set. In the eighth game of the opener, he came back from 40-15 down to win four consecutive points and break Murray's serve. Then, in the seventh game of the second set Djokovic broke Murray again despite falling over and banging his head during one rally. It seemed to be the decisive blow, but Murray would not be easily brushed aside, rallying to take the game into the decider. Missed chances Murray said he was "obviously disappointed" to lose but was not too downbeat. "I think physically it was a good test to start the year," he said. He added that he lost having failed to capitalise on his chances. "I had a break point at 3-2. In the last game, I had love-30 on Novak's serve and played a couple of loose shots. I think I had the first break point in the first set as well, didn't get it. "He had one and took it, that was the difference this evening." Saturday's match was the first meeting between the pair since Murray beat the Serb at the ATP World Tour Finals in London in November, snatching Djokovic's number one ranking in the process. It was also the 20th time Djokovic has beaten Murray after winning the first set. Despite the defeat, Murray retains his world number one ranking. (AFP)

Novak Djokovic beats Andy Murray to win Qatar Open

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