Iga Swiatek is unstoppable in Doha. The World No. 2 kept her Qatar Open dynasty alive on Thursday, defeating Elena Rybakina 6-2, 7-5 to advance to the semifinals and secure her 15th consecutive victory at the tournament.
Swiatek Outclasses Rybakina in a Tactical Masterclass
Facing the fifth-seeded Rybakina, Swiatek wasted no time asserting her authority. She broke the 2022 Wimbledon champion twice in the opening set—in the second and eighth games—to comfortably secure the first set 6-2.
With her signature blend of relentless baseline aggression and clinical shot placement, the Polish star left Rybakina searching for answers early on.
However, the second set proved to be a tougher battle.
Rybakina Fights Back—But Swiatek Finishes Strong
After struggling in the opening set, Rybakina flipped the script at the start of the second, breaking Swiatek in the first game and saving five break points across her next few service games.
But champions don’t go down without a fight—and Swiatek wasn’t about to let her Doha streak end so easily.
The 23-year-old turned up the pressure, breaking back in the eighth game to level the set at 4-4 before securing the decisive break in the 12th game to close out the match in straight sets.
With the victory, Swiatek leveled her head-to-head record against Rybakina at 4-4, avenging last year’s losses and proving she’s still the queen of Doha.
Following the hard-fought win, Swiatek didn’t hold back her satisfaction and respect for Rybakina.
“I’m super happy & proud of myself. Playing against Elena is never easy,” Swiatek said. “At the beginning of the second set, she increased her level. I needed to do that too in order to come back. I’m really happy. With her serve, it’s tough.”
Who’s Next? Swiatek Awaits Jabeur or Ostapenko
With a spot in the Doha final on the line, Swiatek will next face the winner of the Ons Jabeur vs. Jelena Ostapenko quarterfinal matchup.
With her fourth title in Doha now within reach, Swiatek is on the verge of history. Will anyone be able to stop her?
One thing is certain—beating Swiatek in Doha is one of the toughest tasks in tennis right now.
