Marta Kostyuk stunned Coco Gauff at the Qatar Open, winning 6-2, 7-5, while Ekaterina Alexandrova upset Aryna Sabalenka. Other notable matches included wins by Amanda Anisimova over Paula Badosa and Rybakina defeating Stearns. Jabeur and Paolini also advanced, contributing to a day filled with unexpected results in Doha.
In a stunning upset at the Qatar Open, Marta Kostyuk eliminated former US Open champion Coco Gauff with a score of 6-2, 7-5. Despite Gauff’s initial break in the second set, she struggled throughout the match, serving seven double faults. Kostyuk expressed her respect for Gauff, stating, “Coco is an incredible fighter. We always have incredible matches. I tried to stick to what I had to do.” This victory advances Kostyuk to the third round against the winner of Magda Linette vs. Magdalena Frech.
In another surprising turn, world number one Aryna Sabalenka was knocked out by Ekaterina Alexandrova, who triumphed in a grueling match lasting over two and a half hours with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 7-6. Alexandrova’s resilience shone through as she came back after losing the first set. The match also featured an unusual distraction with a cat wandering onto the court, which happened during a crucial moment. Following this win, Alexandrova faces Elise Mertens in the next round.
In further developments, ninth seed Paula Badosa was defeated by Amanda Anisimova in two straight sets, with a score of 6-4, 6-3. Earlier, fifth seed Elena Rybakina secured her spot in the next round with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Peyton Stearns, despite losing momentum late in the second set. Rybakina will next play either Mirra Andreeva or Rebecca Sramkova.
Chinese seventh seed Zheng Qinwen, among other top players, was eliminated by Ons Jabeur, who won the match 6-4, 6-2. Jabeur’s victory marked her first win against a top-10 opponent since the 2022 Madrid Open. The Tunisian moves on to face 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin. Jasmine Paolini also had a successful outing, beating Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-4, while sixth seed Jessica Pegula overcame Elina Svitolina in a challenging match, securing a 6-3, 7-6 victory. Additionally, Czech youngster Linda Noskova reached the last 16 with a win over Yulia Putintseva, setting up a clash with three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek.
The Qatar Open witnessed a series of significant upsets, with Kostyuk eliminating Gauff and Alexandrova knocking out top seed Sabalenka. These results highlight the unpredictability of the tournament and set the stage for exciting matchups in the upcoming rounds. Players such as Rybakina and Jabeur also advanced, continuing their pursuit for the title.
Original Source: www.flashscore.com
