Jelena Ostapenko ended Iga Swiatek’s three-year reign on the Qatar Open within the semifinals Friday.
No. 37-ranked Ostapenko gained 6-3, 6-1 and improved her document towards No. 2 Swiatek to 5-0. The Latvian is the one energetic participant to have confronted Swiatek at the very least twice and saved a profitable document.
“I used to be fairly assured that I might beat her. … I understand how to play towards her,” Ostapenko mentioned on court docket. “I am pleased with the way in which I am dealing with my feelings this week.”
The previous French Open champion will play for her ninth profession WTA title, and first in a yr, towards Ekaterina Alexandrova or Amanda Anisimova.
Ostapenko acquired off to a assured begin by profitable the opening two video games earlier than taking a 4-2 lead en path to taking the primary set. She produced an totally dominant show within the second set to race to a 4-0 lead earlier than wrapping up the win in just a bit over an hour.
Swiatek threw her racket halfway by way of the second set as her woes towards Ostapenko continued. It was Swiatek’s first loss in Doha in 16 matches and her third defeat of the yr.
Ostapenko beat No. 4 Jasmine Paolini within the second spherical and has two wins towards top-five gamers in a single match for the primary time in her profession. She had mentioned the partisan followers on the match had been disrespectful for jeering her all through her quarterfinal match as she eased to a straight-sets win over Tunisian Ons Jabeur.
The Related Press and Reuters contributed to this report.