Jelena Ostapenko beat three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek 6-3 6-1 in the semifinal of the Qatar Total Energies Open to extend her winning streak against her Polish opponent. Ostapenko has reached the final without droppin a set in the whole week.
Ostapenko ended Swiatek’s 15-match winning streak. The Latvian player has reached the second final of her career in Doha, the 17th championships match of her career and the fourth at WTA 1000 level following Doha 2016, Roland Garros 2017 and Miami 2018.
Ostapenko hit a forehand return winner on the first point of the match and another winner to break serve in the first game. She won eight of the first nine points.
Ostapenko hit 24 winners to Swiatek’s seven and committed only 15 unforced errors. Swiatek hit two angles winners in the sixth game, but Ostapenko saved the break point with a service winner.
Swiatek netted a smash in the fourth game of the second set. Ostapenko broke serve at love with a backhand winner on the line to race out to a 4-0 lead. Swiatek pulled one of the two breaks back when Ostapenko made a double fault. Ostapenko broke serve at love in the sixth game and served out the second set on her first match point.
“I was pretty confident that I obviously would beat her, because we have played a lot of matches and I know how to play against her. I was more focusing on myself and what had to do. I am happy with the way I am handling my emotions this week. Obviously I was preparing for the match and I pretty much knew what to expect from her”, said Ostapenko.
Ostapenko set up a final against Amanda Anisimova, who beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3 6-3 in the other semifinal. Alexandrova had beaten world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka and world number 6 Jessica Pegula.
Anisimova saved nine of the ten break points she faced and broke Alexandrova fourt times.
The 2017 Roland Garros champion beat Anisimova 6-3 4-6 6-4 in their only previous head-to-head match in the second round in Doha in 2022.
