Ekaterina Alexandrova Defeats Pegula to Reach WTA 1000 Semifinals in Doha

DOHA, Qatar – Ekaterina Alexandrova continued her impressive performance at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open by defeating No. 6 seed Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 in the quarterfinals on Thursday, marking her eighth consecutive match win and a place in her third career WTA 1000 semifinal.

The 30-year-old Russian, who recently claimed her fifth Hologic WTA Tour title in Linz, showcased remarkable resilience after dropping the first set. Alexandrova’s victory comes just weeks after she lifted the trophy in Austria, which has equaled her career-best winning streak.

“When I saw the draw I thought, ‘Maybe not so far,’” Alexandrova said with a laugh in her on-court interview, reflecting on her tough first-round matchup against US Open champion Emma Raducanu and her subsequent match against World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

Alexandrova faced a rough start, committing three double faults in the opening game and finishing the first set with 24 unforced errors. Pegula capitalized on Alexandrova’s slow start to take the first set but faltered in the second.

In a spectacular turnaround, Alexandrova dominated the second set with only four unforced errors, countering Pegula’s error-strewn service game. She continued her aggressive play into the third set, delivering powerful returns and winning crucial break points.

With her victory, Alexandrova improved her head-to-head record against Pegula to 2-1, marking her eighth career win against a Top 5 opponent.

“I’m really happy with the way I’m playing right now,” she stated. “And I want to keep it as long as possible – no matter what.”

Next, Alexandrova is set to face either Marta Kostyuk or Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals, both also unseeded players. Alexandrova holds a favorable 2-0 record against Kostyuk, while her meetings with Anisimova have been split.

Meanwhile, three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek secured her spot in the semifinals by defeating Elena Rybakina 6-2, 7-5. Swiatek’s win marked her 15th consecutive victory at the tournament and demonstrates her quest to become just the second player in WTA history to win four consecutive titles at a single event.

Swiatek, who faced a challenging start after trailing in the second set, exhibited clutch play to pull off the win within 1 hour and 36 minutes. “I’m super happy, super proud of myself. Playing against Elena is never easy,” she remarked post-match.

As the tournament progresses, Alexandrova and Swiatek will be key players to watch as they each aim for the coveted WTA 1000 title.