Ekaterina Alexandrova came back from one set down to beat number 6 seed Jessica Pegula 4-6 6-1 6-1 in the quarter finals at the Qatar Total Energies Open in Doha reaching her third WTA 1000 semifinal.
Alexandrova has extended her winning streak to eight consecutive matches.
Alexandrova has equalled her career-best winning streak. She has claimed eight straight wins at WTA level for the third time in her career following her runs in autumn 2022 (Seoul title, Ostrava semifinal) and in summer 2023 (s’Hertogenbosch title, Berlin semifinal).
She had reached her previous WTA 1000 semifinals in Madrid 2022 and Miami 2024. Last year she achieved her first win over a reigning world number 1 Iga Swiatek in the fourth round before beating Jessica Pegula 3-6 6-4 6-4 in Miami in 2024. At this year’s edition of the she beat world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the second round before coming back from one set down to beat Pegula in the quarter final. Pegula converted her fourth break point in the first game and held at 30 to take a 2-0 lead. Alexandrova broke back in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2. Pegula earned her second break in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead and held on her next service games to win the first set 6-4. Alexandrova broke twice in the second and sixth games to win the second set 6-1. Rge Russian player earned three more breaks to seal the decisive set on her third match point.
