Iga Swiatek overcame a tough challenge from Linda Noskova to secure her spot in the Qatar Open 2025 quarterfinals. The defending champion fought back to claim a 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-4 victory, extending her strong record in Doha.
Swiatek’s next opponent will be Elena Rybakina, who defeated Rebecca Sramkova 7-6 (1), 6-2 to advance. The match between Swiatek and Rybakina is expected to be one of the highlights of the tournament, as both players are among the top contenders for the title.
Swiatek’s Tough Battle Against Noskova
The world No. 2 did not have an easy path to the quarterfinals. Linda Noskova, a rising star on the WTA Tour, pushed Swiatek to three sets, taking the first-set tiebreak convincingly. However, Swiatek adjusted her strategy, finding her rhythm to win the next two sets.
- First Set: Noskova dominated the tiebreak (7-1), putting Swiatek on the back foot.
- Second Set: Swiatek broke early and held her lead to level the match.
- Third Set: With both players fighting for control, Swiatek secured a crucial break and held on to seal the victory.
Following the match, Swiatek admitted it was a challenging encounter:
“Linda played really well, especially in the first set. I had to stay focused and fight for every point. I’m happy with how I managed to turn things around.”
Rybakina Awaits in the Quarterfinals
Swiatek will now face Elena Rybakina, one of her strongest rivals on tour. The Kazakhstani player has had the upper hand in recent matches against Swiatek, winning three of their last five encounters.
Rybakina looked in control against Sramkova, using her powerful serve and baseline aggression to secure a straight-sets victory (7-6, 6-2). Swiatek acknowledged the challenge ahead:
“Elena is a tough opponent. She has a great serve, and I will need to be at my best. We’ve had close matches before, and I expect another battle.”
Other Key Matches in Doha
The Qatar Open 2025 has already produced major surprises:
- Jessica Pegula (No.6) defeated Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 7-5 to reach the quarterfinals. She will face Ekaterina Alexandrova, who caused a major upset by defeating world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the previous round.
- Jelena Ostapenko eliminated Jasmine Paolini (6-2, 6-2) and will play Ons Jabeur, who got past Sofia Kenin (6-3, 6-4).
- Marta Kostyuk knocked out Coco Gauff (6-2, 7-5) and will take on Magda Linette next.
Check Out the Full Qatar Open 2025 Draw
What’s at Stake for Swiatek?
Swiatek is looking to defend her Qatar Open title and further establish herself as the dominant player on tour. A win against Rybakina would:
- Strengthen her bid to reclaim the world No. 1 ranking.
- Improve her head-to-head record against one of her main rivals.
- Keep her Doha winning streak alive, as she has won the last two editions of the tournament.
With big names already eliminated, including Sabalenka and Gauff, the door is open for Swiatek to make another deep run in Doha.
