Qatar Total Energies Open. WTA 1000

[MargaretMcAleer]

I was referring to Bea needing to take a break.

Sorry, agree Bea does need a break

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Order of Play,
Round 16,
Wednesday February 11,

Andreeva (5) vs MBoko (10) H2H Andreeva leads 1-0
Swiatek (1) vs Kasatkina H2H Swiatek leads 6-1
Rybakina (2) vs Zheng H2H Rybakina leads 2-1 Most recent meeting was WTA Finals in 2024, Zheng won in 3 sets
Svitolina (7) vs Kalinskaya H2H Svitolina leads 3-0
Sakkari vs Gracheva H2H Sakkari leads 2-1 First match on a HC
Ostapenko vs Osorio H2H Osorio leads 1-0 lastest match was 2024 Olumpic paris
Muchova (14) vs Pliskova H2H Muchova leads 2-1 most recent match AO 2021 Muchova won in straight sets

 

[Hoergren]

Mboko continues to impress. Down a matchpoint - coming back winning the deciding tiebreak

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Mboko continues to impress. Down a matchpoint - coming back winning the deciding tiebreak
View attachment 10586

Focus has been a problem for Mirra since the later part of last year, even in her match yesterday she switched off, then finally woke up and won, well done to Vicky

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Pliskova retired down 2-5 in the 1st set against Muchova (14) who now advances to the QFs
Pliskova had her right leg heavily bandaged
BTW there was hardly any fans in the stadium to watch the match. Sad.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Upset in the doubles,
Mihalikova/Nicholls defeated Siniakova/Krejcikova 64 26 10-5 Krejcikova withdrew from the singles draw to play doubles

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I wish someone would help Iga with her technically flawed serve, I dont think Wim Fissette helps in that area, maybe she needs to find a Bio Mehcanic Serve Specialist like Sabalebnka and Gauff have done.
After losing the 1st set to Kasatakina 75, where she failed to convert BPs, she has re-set and wins the 2nd set 61
Going 3
Swiatek wins 57 61 61

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rybakina and Zheng on court now, just doing the coin toss
Zheng won the toss and chose to receive.
Zheng serving for the 1st set 5-4, came out swinging, Rybakina not on her game, missing returns on Zheng's 2nd serve and 10 ufe so far in the 1st set and only 2 winners
Zheng wonderful on first serve, great off the ground as well, reminds me of her 2024 form. Zheng 1st set 64
Rybakina taking a toilet break.
Great response from Rybakina wins the 2nd set 62 a measured 2nd set, it was expected,, Zheng wasnt able to keep up her great level from the 1st set, surprising points have been won on both ladies first serves, than their 2nd serves
Going 3
Okay Rybakina serving for the match at 5-3, and looking fine to close out the match,, and Zheng finds another level and breaks
From 2-5 down Zheng levels the 3rd set 5 all, what a terrific match this has been!
Serving has been high quality from both players
Big hold from Rybakina and Zheng will serve 5-6 to force a TB for the 3rd set and the match
Rybakina had to do it the hard way tonight coming back from a set down defeats Zheng 46 62 75
Well done to Zheng can be very proud of her first tournament back played 3 consecutive matches, after 7 months off the tour, just needs to sustain her level which I am certain she will be able to do.
A terrific match! the best of the tournament so far!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In regards to young Canadian Victoria Mboko she was ranked outside the Top 300 at the start of last year and now she only needs one more match win to break into the Top Ten. Crazy!
Victoria will play Elena Rybakina in the QFs tomorrow

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Kalinskaya gets her first win over Svitolina (7) in over 3 attempts 64 63

 

[britbox]

Doha Highlights - Last 16

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Order of Play,
QFs,
Thursday 12th February,

Ostapenko vs Coccoaretto Coccoaretto leads their H2H 1-0 their only match was on grass June 2024, this is their first meeting on a HC.
Swiatek (1) vs Sakkari Swiatek leads their H2H 4-3
Rybakina (2) vs Mboko (10) Rybakina leads their H2H 2-1
Muchova (14) vs Kalinskaya Muchova leads their H2H 3-0, last match October 2024, Ningbo Open, Muchova won in 3 sets

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Maria Sakkari ends her 9 set losing streak to Swiatek, first time winning a set against her since 2001
Sakkari wins the 2nd set 64, Swiatek won the 1st set 62
Going 3
Sakkari served for the match 5-4, Iga breaks back on serve , Iga to serve 4-5
5 games all, 3rd set.
Iga will now serve to force a TB in the 3rd set 5-6, Sakkari held to love, where was that service game when you were serving for the match?
Maria Sakkari gets one of the biggest wins in 4 years defeats Swiatek (1) 26 64 75 to make the SFs in Doha!
Sakkari has been playing good ball all week and has been quietly under the radar so far in this tournament
Well done Maria!

In the first QF 2 time runner up Ostapenko d Cocciaretto 75 64 that's her best weeks since Stuttgart title in April
Ostapenko awaits the winner of Rybakina and Mboko in the SFs

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Another example of "Unsportsmanlike Behavior from Swiatek, just add it to the 'long list'
There was a double bounce from Iga in the 3rd set, she knew it was a double bounce, head down, quickly going back to her seat, she was never going to admit it.
Good thing video review exists!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rybakina v Mboko on court warming up
Mboko won the toss and will serve
After a slow start, losing the first 2 games, Rybakina has steadied the ship, found her groove and leads 5-3 in the 1st set,
Mboko with some good 1st serves, gets herself out of a bit of trouble on serve
Rybakina will serve for the 1st set 5-4
Mboko breaks Rybakina serving for the 1st set, back on serve, Mboko to serve 5 all
Mboko was 15-40 down with some great fhand winners
Rybakina will serve to force a TB 5-6 in the 1st set
Well done to Mboko who wins the 1st set 75, Rybakina's serve deserted her and too many ufe in her service game

 

[Front242]

Another example of "Unsportsmanlike Behavior from Swiatek, just add it to the 'long list'
There was a double bounce from Iga in the 3rd set, she knew it was a double bounce, head down, quickly going back to her seat, she was never going to admit it.
Good thing video review exists!

Only fitting the horrible cow lost.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Only fitting the horrible cow lost.

Maria deserved her win, I have no 'words left' for Iga and her 'unsportsmanlike behaviour' though I will continue calling it out! or any other player for that matter.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Mboko has called for the trainer after winning the 1st set 75 over Rybakina, a MTO
Rybakina has taken a toilet break
Trainer just placing some tape on Mboko's right elbow
Rybakina had a early break in the 2nd set, Mboko just broke her, her fhand has been on 'fire' in this match tonight
Back on serve 3 all, 2nd set
Rybakina's converts her break with a love service game and leads 5-3
Rybakina will serve for the 2nd set 5-4
Rybakina wins the 2nd set 64
Going 3, another 3 set match for Rybakina, has been a good match to date, Mboko just needs to be more consistent off the ground, when she does, look out players on the tour!

 

[AnonymousFan]

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

AF
Thank goodness for video reviews!