Exactly ten years ago, Jelena Ostapenko, then just 18, was navigating the challenges of professional tennis.
Ranked No. 88, she made an impressive run to the final in Doha, defeating Grand Slam winners Svetlana Kuznetsova and Petra Kvitova in successive matches. Although she lost to Carla Suarez Navarro in the final, the young Latvian discovered she could compete with the best.
Fast forward to today, and Ostapenko remains a staple in tennis. This Friday, she will compete in the Qatar TotalEnergies Open semifinals as the woman with the most wins in Doha’s history, following her straight-sets victory over lucky loser Elisabetta Cocciaretto, bringing her tournament record to 24-9.
Ostapenko’s next opponent is No. 10 Victoria Mboko, a promising teen who recently upset No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina. Meanwhile, 30-year-old Maria Sakkari, who triumphed in a thrilling three-set match against No. 1 seed and three-time Doha champion Iga Swiatek, will face No. 14 Karolina Muchova.
“Everything began here in 2016, my biggest final back then,” Ostapenko shared with reporters. “I really enjoy the atmosphere here. The organization is excellent, and it’s all very relaxed. Plus, I appreciate the later match start times.”
No. 10 Victoria Mboko vs. Jelena Ostapenko (NB 6:00 p.m. local time, 10:00 a.m. ET)
Head-to-head: 0-0
During her match against Rybakina, Mboko rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the third set to seize victory, closing out the match in four consecutive games to win 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.
At just 19, Mboko is the highest remaining seed and has clinched back-to-back victories against two Top 10 players (Mirra Andreeva and Rybakina). This marks her second semifinal appearance in a WTA 1000 event, having won her title last year in Montreal.
No. 14 Karolina Muchova vs. Maria Sakkari (NB 7:30 p.m. local time, 11:30 a.m. ET)
Head-to-head: Muchova leads 4-0, but two matches went to three sets
Sakkari achieved a notable upset by overcoming Swiatek with a score of 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, marking the first time in 110 completed WTA 1000 matches that Swiatek fell after winning the opening set. This victory signifies Sakkari’s resurgence on the WTA Tour.
Having previously finished in the Top 10 for three consecutive years, Sakkari is aiming to reclaim her spot among the elite after recent rankings of No. 32 and No. 52. She is determined to enhance her chances of success by defeating high-ranking opponents.
