4 weeks ago
18
The Philippine Star
February 16, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Three-time defending Qatar Open champion Iga Swiatek suffered a crushing 6-3, 6-1 defeat by Jelena Ostapenko in the semifinals on Friday, her fifth loss in as many meetings with the mercurial Latvian.
Swiatek entered the semis with a 15-match winning streak in Doha, looking to become the first player since 2011 to win the same WTA tournament four years in a row.
Ostapenko will face Amanda Anisimova in Saturday’s championship match after the American defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-3 to reach her second WTA 1000 final.
Meanwhile, top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner has accepted a three-month ban in a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency over his two positive doping tests, the organization said Saturday.
