Iga Swiatek overcomes setback to defeat Linda Noskova at Qatar open
Kumar Shivam | Feb 13, 2025, 00:29 IST
Iga Swiatek rallied from a set down to beat Linda Noskova 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-4 in the Qatar Open round of 16, extending her winning streak in Doha to 14 matches. Swiatek will face Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals, with a closely contested rivalry and the defending champion aiming for her fourth straight title.
Iga Swiatek survived a major scare at the Qatar Open, battling back from a set down to defeat rising star Linda Noskova 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-4 in a tough round-of-16 match. With the win, Swiatek extended her Doha winning streak to 14 matches and remains the highest seed left in the tournament.
Noskova pushed Swiatek to the limit, taking control early. The Czech player capitalized on Swiatek’s struggles in the opening-set tiebreak, but the defending champion dug deep to turn the match around and secure her spot in the quarterfinals, where she will face Elena Rybakina.
A Tough Battle on Center Court
Swiatek, who hadn’t dropped a set in Doha since 2022, saw that streak end as Noskova played with confidence and determination. The 20-year-old Czech fended off multiple break points and dominated the first-set tiebreak 7-1, leaving Swiatek under real pressure.
However, Swiatek’s champion mentality shone through in the second set. After an early exchange of breaks, she found another gear and leveled the match. Serving for the set, Swiatek kept her composure, fending off Noskova’s attempts to mount a comeback.
Iga Swiatek’s Comeback
The deciding set saw the momentum shift back and forth. Swiatek jumped ahead 2-0, only for Noskova to win three straight games and take a 3-2 lead. At times, Swiatek looked vulnerable, especially when she trailed 0-30 in the eighth game of the set.
But the five-time Grand Slam champion stepped up when it mattered most. She won six consecutive points, breaking Noskova with a powerful forehand to regain control. Serving out the match in the final game, Swiatek sealed the victory in just over two and a half hours, despite Noskova winning more overall points.
Swiatek vs. Rybakina: A High-Stakes Quarterfinal
Swiatek now faces a high-stakes quarterfinal against Elena Rybakina, last year’s Doha finalist. The two have a closely contested rivalry, with Swiatek leading their hard-court head-to-head 3-2. However, Rybakina has had success on clay, defeating Swiatek in both Rome and Stuttgart.
Their most recent encounter was in Sydney at the United Cup, where Swiatek prevailed in straight sets. With the Doha title still within reach, Swiatek will look to continue her dominance and move one step closer to her fourth consecutive title.
Noskova pushed Swiatek to the limit, taking control early. The Czech player capitalized on Swiatek’s struggles in the opening-set tiebreak, but the defending champion dug deep to turn the match around and secure her spot in the quarterfinals, where she will face Elena Rybakina.
A Tough Battle on Center Court
Swiatek, who hadn’t dropped a set in Doha since 2022, saw that streak end as Noskova played with confidence and determination. The 20-year-old Czech fended off multiple break points and dominated the first-set tiebreak 7-1, leaving Swiatek under real pressure.
However, Swiatek’s champion mentality shone through in the second set. After an early exchange of breaks, she found another gear and leveled the match. Serving for the set, Swiatek kept her composure, fending off Noskova’s attempts to mount a comeback.
Iga Swiatek’s Comeback
The deciding set saw the momentum shift back and forth. Swiatek jumped ahead 2-0, only for Noskova to win three straight games and take a 3-2 lead. At times, Swiatek looked vulnerable, especially when she trailed 0-30 in the eighth game of the set.
But the five-time Grand Slam champion stepped up when it mattered most. She won six consecutive points, breaking Noskova with a powerful forehand to regain control. Serving out the match in the final game, Swiatek sealed the victory in just over two and a half hours, despite Noskova winning more overall points.
Swiatek vs. Rybakina: A High-Stakes Quarterfinal
Swiatek now faces a high-stakes quarterfinal against Elena Rybakina, last year’s Doha finalist. The two have a closely contested rivalry, with Swiatek leading their hard-court head-to-head 3-2. However, Rybakina has had success on clay, defeating Swiatek in both Rome and Stuttgart.
Their most recent encounter was in Sydney at the United Cup, where Swiatek prevailed in straight sets. With the Doha title still within reach, Swiatek will look to continue her dominance and move one step closer to her fourth consecutive title.