Qatar Open: Ashleigh Barty sets semi-final appointment with Petra Kvitova

Top-seed Ashleigh Barty and eighth seed Petra Kvitova will face each other in the semi-finals of the Qatar Total Open in Doha in the top half of the draw. Svetlana Kuznetsova and ninth seed Aryna Sabalenka will take on each other for a place in the bottom half of the draw.

On Thursday, Barty defeated the 11th seed Garbine Muguruza 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-2 in one hour and 53 minutes. Kvitova saved two set points – in the second set – to clinch a 7-6(2), 7-6(4) win over Ons Jabeur in their last-eight match in one hour and 44 minutes.

Speaking about the match and how she had managed to win, Kvitova said, “I'm glad how I was able to manage those tie-breaks for sure. So, I'm really glad that I improved something. It was difficult with the crowd as well, with the wind, different conditions today, for sure. So, I'm really glad that with very talented player as she is, with the great touch, I was able to play a good game.”

Meanwhile, Kuznetsova upset Belinda Bencic 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 35 minutes to reach the semi-finals of the event for the first time since 2007. This victory also marked Kuznetsova’s 19 match win in the event, putting her on par with Caroline Wozniacki as the player with the highest number of wins.

A happy Kuznetsova shared, “I have amazing memories. It was my first time when I beat Justine [Henin] here [in the 2004 semi-finals] and it was like I was a kid, I was 19... I raised from No.30-something to No.13 or No.14 and it was amazing. It was so long ago it was like another life, but it really happened to me - I didn't watch it in the movies. And here I'm back again in the semis. I didn't expect it that early. I've been working hard for this and it's nice that the work pays off.”

The Russian’s opponent, Sabalenka defeated Saisai Zheng in their quarter-finals. The Belarusian, came from a set down, to win 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 in two hours and 20 minutes.

Photo Credit: WTA Twitter

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2Vs46VU