Home SPORTS TENNIS Sakkari Stuns Swiatek, Mboko Upsets Rybakina in Doha

Sakkari Stuns Swiatek, Mboko Upsets Rybakina in Doha

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Maria Sakkari
Sakkari score big wins in Qatar

Doha thriller: Mboko, Sakkari cause upsets in Qatar semi-finals. Sakkari ends Swiatek's streak, Mboko stuns world no. 3 Rybakina in WTA 1000 action.


The Greek player is eyeing her first WTA 1000 title...


Maria Sakkari pulled off a stunning upset at the Qatar Open, defeating three-time champion Iga Swiatek 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 to reach the semi-finals. This win marks Sakkari's joint best-ever result in terms of ranking, and it's her first win over Swiatek in five years.


Sakkari, who had previously lost four straight matches to Swiatek without winning a set, turned the tables on the erratic top seed in a thrilling clash. The Greek star dominated the second and third sets, showcasing her aggressive baseline game and mental toughness.




Swiatek's shocking loss to Sakkari ends a crazy 109-0 streak in WTA 1000 events where she'd won the first set. Sakkari now faces Karolina Muchova, who beat Anna Kalinskaya 6-3, 6-4.


The Greek player is eyeing her first WTA 1000 title, having reached finals in Indian Wells and Guadalajara in 2022. Sakkari was once world No. 3, but a tough spell has dropped her to 52nd. 


“I'm speechless because it's been a while since I got a big win like today. When you are dropping in the rankings and not playing your best tennis, you are doubting yourself and think you'll never beat those players again,” she said after her win.


“Last year in the second round against her, I wasn't confident or believing in myself. But this year is different and I'm feeling a lot better.”


Swiatek looked unstoppable in Doha, winning 17 of her last 18 matches, but Sakkari's aggressive play disrupted her rhythm. The first set was tight, with both players holding serve easily, until Swiatek broke through Sakkari's sloppy play at 40-15 in the fifth game.


The Pole took control, winning the next four games to take the set 6-2. Sakkari regrouped, adjusting her game to find a way back in. 


Sakkari bounced back strong, breaking early in the second set to lead 3-0. But Swiatek fought back, leveling things at 4-4 and looking like she'd cruise to a straight-set win.


Sakkari had a turning point, fending off two break points in the ninth game - then broke Swiatek to force a decider. The Greek player ended a nine-set losing streak against Swiatek. 


The third set was a tense battle, with early breaks from both sides and Swiatek's errors piling up. Sakkari seized the momentum, taking a 5-3 lead and serving for the match.


She had a match point, but Swiatek pushed it to deuce. Sakkari stayed focused, capitalizing on Swiatek's simple volley error to seal the win. 


Mboko Shines, Beats Rybakina in Thriller

19-year-old Victoria Mboko produced a scintillating display to edge a nail-biting contest 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 against Elena Rybakina, ending the Australian Open champion's nine-game winning run in the process.


Mboko turned the match around in the final set, winning four straight games from 4-2 down with some heavy hitting from the baseline. She snatched the initiative from world No. 3 Rybakina.


The 19-year-old is into her second WTA 1000 semi-final, having also beaten world No. 7 Mirra Andreeva in the last 16.


Mboko's momentum continues - she won her maiden 1000 title at the Canadian Open and is now two wins away from a second crown at this level.




Jelena Ostapenko, the 2025 runner-up, secured a spot in the semi-finals with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Ostapenko, a former French Open champion, previously defeated Iga Swiatek in the 2025 semi-finals, ending Swiatek's 15-match winning streak in Doha, before losing to Amanda Anisimova in the final.


Ostapenko's next opponent will be either Elena Rybakina or Victoria Mboko, who are set to clash in the other semi-final match.




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