Kvitova was not enough for Gauffova in Doha. Muchová lost the battle with Garcia

Petra Kvitova she performed fantastically in the opening weeks of the season and only found the winner in the fifth game. Since then, however, the performances of the 32-year-old Czech have been unstable. After defeating Darja Kasatkin in the quarterfinals in Adelaide, she had difficulties with Alison Van Uytvanck and Anhelina Kalinin at the Australian Open, and the turn for the better did not come even in the popular Doha, where she arrived after the disappointment of being eliminated in the second round of the opening Grand Slam of the year.

Although the two-time champion started in the capital of Qatar with a solid win over Shuai Zhang and could have already played in the seventh quarter-final in her ninth start at this venue, however, in the premiere match with Cori Gauffovou she didn’t do well at all, she lost to the 18-year-old American 3-6 6-7(6) and for only the second time and the second year in a row she ended up in the second round here.

Both actresses struggled on the return in the match, there was only one break point on both sides. While Kvitová was unable to fend off the threat and lost her serve with a clean game, Gauff dealt with her with an ace. The native of Fulnek was close to equalizing the score in the tie-break, but at 5-5 she underestimated the situation and did not finish the excellent exchange at the net. She eliminated her opponent’s first match point, but was unable to react to the second one.

Kvitova outshot her opponent 21-11 for the winning shots, but she also committed 31 unforced errors, while Gauff only 14.

“I’ve been watching her play for a long time, so it was special for me to play against her. It was like playing a celebrity in a way,” Gauff said with respect for the two-time Wimbledon champion. “I had to accept that she hits a lot of winners. I didn’t have many chances today. I won more points with defense,” she added.

Statistics of the match Kvitova – Gauffova

Gauffová, who won nine out of ten duels in the current season, will also play in the quarterfinals during her second appearance in Doha. Last year, she was not good enough for Maria Sakkariová, and this year she will challenge the seeded Russian Veronika Kuděrmetová.

Karolina Muchová in Doha she started with a smooth win over the Italian Martina Trevisanová and also won her opening match at the third event of the year, but was unable to add a second victory. WITH Caroline Garciaovou today she fought an even battle, but she was unable to defeat the winner of last year’s Tournament of Champions.

In the first set, Muchová did not maintain a 5-3 lead, however, in the tie-break, she took the opening act to her side. In the second set, she resisted the opponent’s pressure for a long time and averted a total of eight break points in four consecutive games. In the end, however, she lost her serve and the Frenchwoman subsequently confirmed the break.

In the decisive act, Muchová had only the second break point in the match at 4-3, but she could not win the perhaps decisive exchange of the whole match. Immediately after that, she lost for the third time in the match and finally, after three hours of fighting and a quarter of an hour before midnight Qatar time, she lost 7-6 5-7 4-6.

Garcia FLIES in Doha ✈️

After hitting the 3 hour mark, @CaroGarcia closes it out in style! #QatarTennis pic.twitter.com/kSBEiCzvRt

— wta (@WTA) February 15, 2023

At the same time, the 26-year-old Czech recorded 29 winners in the match, made only 19 unforced errors and averted 13 of 16 break points. She only had two chances to break and was able to use one. The Top 10 player lost only for the second time in the last seven duels.

“I’m happy that I won this difficult and very balanced match. It was a fight for every point, every game was important. In the second set, I didn’t use many opportunities to break, but in the end I broke it,” commented Garcia.

In Thursday’s quarterfinals, she will face the Greek Maria Sakkariová, whom she defeated in all three duels. The last time she succeeded was in the semifinals of the Tournament of Champions last year. “I expect another close match. Maria is a great fighter,” Garcia said.

trying to break through the Muchova wall @CaroGarcia | #QatarTennis pic.twitter.com/tTZAYPC4N3

— wta (@WTA) February 15, 2023

Šwiateková won 6-0 6-1. Bencicova escaped from 1-6 and 1-4
World number one Iga Šwiateková returned to the courts in style after her defeat in the round of 16 at the opening Grand Slam of the season. The Polish tennis player stepped up to defend her title in Doha with a crushing 6-0 6-1 win over the American Danielle Collinswhich she allowed to play only 20 fifths and avenged her defeat in the semifinals of last year’s Australian Open.

“I felt confident on the court today. From start to finish, I was focused, disciplined and executed the tactical plan. I didn’t let Daniella get into a rhythm. I wanted to be aggressive and I’m happy that I succeeded,” commented Šwiateková, who last year in Doha claimed its most valuable hard court title and started a streak of 37 straight wins.

In the quarter-finals, Šwiateková will face off with a start Belindou Bencicovou (h2h 2-1). Today, the Swiss tennis player lost to two-time champion Viktoria Azarenkova 1-6 and 1-4 with two breaks missing, but she turned around the significantly unfavorable development and won 1-6 7-6 6-4.

The 25-year-old Bencic, who triumphed in Abu Dhabi last week after saving two match points in the final against Lyudmila Samsonova, extended her unbeaten run in the Middle East to six matches and improved her record to 14-2 this year. No tennis player has recorded more wins this season.

Even closer to defeat was the world number four in his first appearance since the Melbourne Grand Slam Jessica Pegula. The American defeated the Latvian Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 2-6 7-5 despite trailing 2-5 in the third set and facing two match points in the tenth game.

Pegula will face the Brazilian for a place in the semi-finals Beatriz Haddadovou Maiaovouwho after avoiding three set points in a row in the tie-break of the second set managed 6-3 7-6 with Darya Kasatkinova.