Iga Swiatek reveals what she needs to do to beat Elena Rybakina ahead of their quarter-final match in Qatar
Iga Swiatek Eyes Fourth Consecutive Qatar Open Title Amidst Challenging Draw
Iga Swiatek is on a mission to claim her fourth straight Qatar Open title this week in Doha. The world No. 2 returned to action following a brief post-Australian Open break, eager to rebound from her heartbreaking semi-final loss to Madison Keys in Melbourne.
Swiatek, who failed to convert a match point in that defeat, showed resilience in her comeback tournament. She cruised past Maria Sakkari in straight sets to reach the last 16, where she encountered a stern test from rising Czech talent Linda Noskova. In a rare stumble, the Polish star dropped a set in Doha for the first time in 1,086 days. However, she fought back to claim a 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory and secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
Her next challenge comes in the form of Elena Rybakina, who eased into the last eight earlier on Wednesday. Swiatek is well aware of the difficulty posed by the Kazakh star and knows she must be at her absolute best.
Swiatek: ‘I Need to Be 100% Against Rybakina’
Reflecting on her grueling win over Noskova, Swiatek acknowledged the intensity of the battle.
“For sure, every match against Linda [Noskova] is always super tough, and this was another one,” she said in her on-court interview. “I’m proud that I was solid until the end, but it wasn’t easy, especially with her serve that was kind of perfect, so I had to take my chances.”
Noskova’s dominant serving performance, which included a tournament-high 16 aces, kept Swiatek on edge throughout the match.
| Player | Aces | Double Faults | First Serve % | Win % on First Serve | Win % on Second Serve |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linda Noskova | 16 | 3 | 63% | 70% | 61% |
| Iga Swiatek | 4 | 3 | 64% | 65% | 58% |
Despite the challenge, Swiatek weathered the storm to advance. Now, she prepares for an even bigger test against Rybakina.
“Elena [Rybakina] is a really experienced player and one that you need to be 100% against if you want to win,” Swiatek admitted. “For sure, I’ll use my experience and also the last match we played. It’s good to watch, but it’s not going to be easy—it’s going to be a tough battle.”
Swiatek vs. Rybakina: A Rivalry Renewed
Swiatek and Rybakina are no strangers to facing off on the big stage. They last met in the final of the 2024 Qatar Open, where Swiatek secured a 7-6, 6-2 victory to claim her third consecutive title in Doha.
However, Rybakina has historically been a tough matchup for Swiatek, winning four of their seven encounters.
Swiatek vs. Rybakina Head-to-Head Record
- 2025 United Cup (SF): Swiatek won in two sets
- 2024 Stuttgart (SF): Rybakina won in three sets
- 2024 Doha (F): Swiatek won in two sets
- 2023 Rome (QF): Rybakina won in three sets
- 2023 Indian Wells (SF): Rybakina won in two sets
- 2023 Australian Open (4R): Rybakina won in two sets
- 2021 Ostrava (QF): Swiatek won in two sets
With Rybakina’s powerful baseline game and Swiatek’s all-court prowess, their quarter-final clash is shaping up to be one of the tournament’s highlights.
Top Seeds Struggle in Doha
The Qatar Open has been full of surprises, with several top seeds exiting early. Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff were among the biggest names to fall in the second round, leaving just three top-10 seeds remaining in the draw.
| Seed | Name | Round Lost In/Reaching | Opponent Lost To/Next Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aryna Sabalenka | 2R | Ekaterina Alexandrova |
| 2 | Iga Swiatek | QF* | Elena Rybakina* |
| 3 | Coco Gauff | 2R | Marta Kostyuk |
| 4 | Jasmine Paolini | 3R | Jelena Ostapenko |
| 5 | Elena Rybakina | QF* | Iga Swiatek* |
| 6 | Jessica Pegula | QF* | Ekaterina Alexandrova* |
| 7 | Qinwen Zheng | 2R | Ons Jabeur |
| 8 | Emma Navarro | 2R | Leylah Fernandez |
| 9 | Paula Badosa | 2R | Amanda Anisimova |
| 10 | Daria Kasatkina | 3R | Jessica Pegula |
With Jessica Pegula being the only other top-ten seed left standing, the door is open for an unexpected champion in Doha. Pegula will face the in-form Ekaterina Alexandrova, who already upset Sabalenka earlier in the tournament.
As the quarter-finals get underway on Thursday, all eyes will be on Swiatek and Rybakina in what promises to be a thrilling showdown.
