Ekaterina Alexandrova came back from one set down to upset Aryna Sabalenka 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5) after 2 hours and 36 minutes in the second round at the Qatar Total Energies Open. Alexandrova scored the third upset in as many Center Court matches at this tournament.
Sabalenka was playing in her first match since her defeat in eh Australian Open final against Madison Keys.
Alexandrova entered the Qatar Open tournament one week after winning her first WTA 500 title at the Upper Austria Ladies in Linz. She had beaten Emma Raducanu 6-3 7-5 in the first round in Doha to achieve her fifth consecutive win.
Sabalenka broke serve in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. The world number 1 saved a total of seven set points before serving out the first set with a hold at 15.
Alexandrova broke in the second game to take a 2-0 lead at the start of the second set. Sabalenka broke straight back with a hold at 15. Alexandrova earned a second break in the eighth game and served out on her third set point.
Sabalenka led by a break twice at 2-0 and 4-2 in the third set, but Alexandrova broke back each time. Alexandrova earned three match points at 6-3 in the tie-break and eventually converted her third match point to seal the upset win.
Marta Kostyuk beat Coco Gauff 6-2 7-5 to book her spot in the Round of 16. Kstyuk set up a match against Magda Linette, who beat Magdalena Frech 7-5 5-7 6-4. Gauff made two consecutive double faults to give Kostyuk two match points. Kostyuk converted her second chance when Gauff hit her backhand into the net.
Jasmine Paolini came back from a break down in the second set to beat beat French wild card Caroline Garcia 6-3 6-4 in 1 hour and 12 minutes.
Garcia earned an early break in the first game, but Paolini broke straight back in the second game. Paolini broke again in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead, but she had to save two break points in the seventh game. Paolini served out the opening set on her second set point. Paolini went down 15-40 in the second game of the second set and Garcia broke serve with a forehand winner to take a 2-0 lead. Paolini broke straight back and held serve at 15 to draw level to 2-2. Paolini broke for the second time in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. Garcia saved two match points at 3-5, but Paolini sealed the win on her third chance in the next game. Gauff finished the match with 39 unforced errors and only eight winners.
