New Delhi: Former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko defeated fourth seed Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-2 in the third round to book a quarter-final clash with Ons Jabeur at the Qatar Open in Doha.
It was Ostapenko’s first win against a top 10 opponent since 2023. She was behind 0-2 in the second set, but won the last six games of the match to close out the match in only 63 minutes.
Ostapenko’s next opponent World No. 35 Jabeur beat Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-4 to enter the last four for the third time in Doha. It was Latvian Ostapenko’s 12th win against a top five player.
Only two top five seeds of the Doha draw are alive in the competition – second seed Iga Swiatek and fifth seed Elena Rybakina – and they are set to face each other in the quarter-finals, having met in the final last year.
Penko prevails 💪@JelenaOstapenk8 defeats the No. 4 seed Paolini 6-2, 6-2 and awaits the winner of Jabeur/Kenin!#QatarTotalEnergiesOpen pic.twitter.com/ywXJ7dIs2I
— wta (@WTA) February 12, 2025
“I feel very special playing in Doha, because I feel this is the place where everything started for me,” Ostapenko said after her win.
But in Tunisian Jabeur, Ostapenko faces a tough opposition, against whom she has a 2-4 head-to-head record, having gone down 7-6(4), 7-5 only a week ago in Abu Dhabi.
Swiatek vs Rybakina
World No. 2 Swiatek overcame a spirited Linda Noskova to win 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-4 in the round of 16 for 14th consecutive victory in Doha.
Her last eight stage opponent Rybakina won 7-6 (1), 6-2 against Rebecca Sramkova to set up a mouth-watering clash. Sixth-seeded Jessica Pegula also reached the last eight stage with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Daria Kasatkina.
Who’s ready for some action packed quarterfinals in Doha 😆#QatarTotalEnergiesOpen pic.twitter.com/OzVoPw7QMG
— wta (@WTA) February 12, 2025
She next faces Ekaterina Alexandrova, who defeated Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-2. Alexandrova had beaten World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Tuesday while Coco Gauff lost to Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 7-5 and plays against Magda Linette next.
Jelena Ostapenko beat Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-2 in the third round of Qatar Open in Doha for her first win against a top 10 opponent since 2023. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
