Iga Swiatek is one step closer to claiming a rare Doha-Dubai double thanks to a convincing 6-3, 6-2 quarter-final victory over Chinese sixth seed Zheng Qinwen on Thursday in the UAE. The world number one, who lifted the trophy in Doha for a third consecutive time last Saturday, extended her unbeaten streak to seven matches and is looking to become the first woman since 2007, and just the third overall, to win both Gulf tournaments in the same season.
Iga Swiatek is one step closer to claiming a rare Doha-Dubai double thanks to a convincing 6-3, 6-2 quarter-final victory over Chinese sixth seed Zheng Qinwen on Thursday in the UAE.
“I’m happy that I played well, stuck to my tactics, was pretty solid. “She’s a great player, a great fighter. I could feel the tension until the last point, so it was very important from my side to stay focused and calm and just do my best and trying to stay aggressive. “I looked over at the clock and I saw it was only one hour of play. I was having such great support. I think that thing took the pressure away from me.”
For sure I feel better and better every day here,” said Swiatek, who was a finalist in Dubai 12 months ago. Swiatek had to save a break point in game four before pouncing on the Zheng serve and she didn’t lose another game, sprinting to victory in one hour and 26 minutes. The 25-year-old is just the fourth qualifier to reach the semi-finals of the WTA tournament in Dubai.
Six match points saved “I’m super happy about my game here,” said Kalinskaya, who will contest her first WTA 1000 semi-final. Paolini will next take on Romanian Sorana Cirstea, who said she pulled off the “biggest comeback of my career” after rebounding from 2-6, 1-5 down and saving six match points to defeat reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 2-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-2. I said, ‘Okay, let’s try to win one more game for the public, make it a little bit longer’.
