Ekaterina Alexandrova delivered a massive upset, eliminating world No. 5 Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Amanda Anisimova showed incredible resilience to edge out Marta Kostyuk in a gripping battle.
Alexandrova, ranked No. 20, played fearless tennis, dominating Pegula with her powerful groundstrokes and precise shot-making. She stormed through the first set 6-1, leaving Pegula struggling to find her rhythm. The American fought back in the second set, but Alexandrova remained composed, sealing the match 6-1, 7-5. The victory marks one of Alexandrova’s biggest career wins, propelling her into the semifinals with immense confidence.
“I knew I had to be aggressive and take my chances,” Alexandrova said post-match. “Jessica is an incredible player, but today I played some of my best tennis.”
On the other side of the draw, Anisimova and Kostyuk delivered an electrifying showdown. Kostyuk started strong, taking the first set 6-4, using her speed and relentless baseline play to put Anisimova under pressure. But the American refused to go down without a fight. She clawed her way back in the second set, leveling the match with a tense 7-6(4) tiebreak win. The final set was a rollercoaster, with both players exchanging breaks, but Anisimova held her nerve to close it out 6-4.
“This was a battle,” Anisimova admitted. “Marta pushed me to my limits, but I stayed focused and kept believing.”
With these results, the Qatar Open semifinals are set to be thrilling, as Alexandrova and Anisimova aim to continue their impressive runs.
