Ekaterina Alexandrova Stuns Aryna Sabalenka in Doha Thriller
Ekaterina Alexandrova showcased her resilience and fighting spirit as she pulled off a stunning comeback victory over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at the Qatar Open. The Russian, ranked No. 26, backed up her first-round win over Emma Raducanu by defeating the tournament’s top seed 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5).
Alexandrova twice rallied from a break down in the deciding set, proving her mental fortitude against one of the toughest competitors on tour. After the match, she revealed her mindset heading into the contest.
“It was a very difficult match to play against her because she’s a fighter and plays every single point, no matter what,” Alexandrova said. “I told myself before the match that you just need to do the maximum you can do tonight, and if you lose, you know that you’ve tried everything.”
A Rivalry That Continues to Deliver
Sabalenka and Alexandrova have developed a competitive rivalry over the years, and this latest match was another chapter in their closely contested battles. Following Alexandrova’s victory, their head-to-head record now stands at 4-4.
Their last meeting at the 2024 US Open saw Sabalenka claim a hard-fought three-set win (2-6, 6-1, 6-2). In Doha, however, Alexandrova turned the tables, refusing to let the Belarusian escape despite her early lead in the final set.
For Sabalenka, this was her first match since falling to Qinwen Zheng in the Australian Open final. Heading into Doha, she acknowledged that she was using this tournament, along with Dubai, as preparation for the upcoming Sunshine Swing in Indian Wells and Miami.
“I believe I’ll just take these two tournaments as preparation for the Sunshine one, and I’ll try to build my tennis, and probably take my tennis to the next level in these two events,” Sabalenka said before the tournament.
With this statement win, Alexandrova has once again proven she is a dangerous force on the WTA Tour, while Sabalenka will look to regroup as she continues her season.
