Tennis: Poland’s Świątek eases into Doha semifinals

Polish tennis star Iga Świątek has stormed into the semifinals of the Qatar Open tournament in Doha, with a straight-set win over Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.

Iga Świątek

PAP/Piotr Nowak

The Polish world No. 1, who is defending her title in Doha, dispatched Azarenka 6-4, 6-0 in the quarterfinals of the women’s singles on Thursday.

There's something about Doha and @iga_swiatek 🫶

The World No.1 defeats Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-0 to make it 11 straight wins at the #QatarTotalEnergiesOpen pic.twitter.com/t3ph9emiHl

— wta (@WTA) February 15, 2024

The top-seeded Polish player will now face Karolína Plíšková of the Czech Republic for a place in the final.

Świątek - Pliskova: kiedy mecz o finał ❓https://t.co/8DjRP6tEju

— Sport PR (@sportradiopl) February 15, 2024

Doha in a glance:

📍 Doha, Qatar
📲 @QatarTennis
📅 February 11 - 17

⏪ Singles defending champ: @iga_swiatek
⏪ Doubles defending champs: @CocoGauff & @JPegula
🏆 2024 Champion gets: 1000 points/$523,485 pic.twitter.com/vo3vMhoe4g

— wta (@WTA) February 11, 2024

Świątek triumphed in Doha last year and in 2022.

The 22-year-old Pole in November regained her spot at the top of the world rankings in women's tennis after winning the season-ending WTA Finals tournament in Mexico.

The Polish star, coached by countryman Tomasz Wiktorowski, now leads the Women's Tennis Association rankings with 9,770 points, ahead of Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, with 8,905 points, and American Coco Gauff, with 7,200.

(gs)

Source: PAP