Qatar TotalEnergies Women’s Open: Poland’s Swiatek, Canada’s Mboko Advance to Quarterfinals

Doha: Polish player Iga Swiatek, ranked first, advanced to the quarterfinals of the Qatar TotalEnergies Women's Open Tennis Tournament (WTA 1000) by defeating Australia's Daria Kasatkina 2-1 on Wednesday in the round of 16. World No. 2 Swiatek, after losing the first set 5-7, staged a comeback to win the next two sets 6-1, 6-1. According to Qatar News Agency, Swiatek, a three-time Qatar champion, began her tournament journey from the second round, defeating Indonesia's Janice Tiegen, who entered with a wildcard, in straight sets 6-0, 6-3. The 24-year-old Swiatek, winner of six Grand Slam titles, aims to claim her fourth Doha title and the 26th overall in her career. Meanwhile, Australia's 28-year-old Kasatkina, ranked 61st in the world, ended her run at the round of 16 after defeating Belgium's Elise Mertens, world No. 22 and Qatar 2019 champion, in straight sets 6-4, 6-0 yesterday. Canadian player Victoria Mboko, ranked 13th globally and seeded 10th in the tournament, aged 19, also advanced to the quarterf inals after eliminating Russia's Mira Andreeva, ranked seventh and seeded fifth, aged 18, with a 2-1 victory of 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 in a match lasting 2 hours and 10 minutes. Italian player Elisabetta Cocciaretto, ranked 57th in the world, continued her strong performance in Qatar, reaching the quarterfinals after defeating American Ann Li, ranked 41st, 2-1 with scores of 7-6, 5-7, 6-4. Cocciaretto had earlier eliminated another American, Coco Gauff, ranked fifth, in the second round with a 6-4, 6-2 win. Latvian player Jelena Ostapenko also advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Colombia's Camila Osorio 6-3, 6-1.