(VIDEO) Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho spotted at Rybakina-Fernandez quarter-final at Qatar Open

Football legend Ronaldinho was spotted in the audience cheering for Elena Rybakina's victory over Leylah Fernandez in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open. The Brazilian, renowned for his time with Barcelona and Milan, was captured by the official match broadcast, greeting the audience with his signature celebration of the pinky finger and thumb.

Ronaldinho, who is enjoying his retirement, has been seen at various major sporting events in Qatar, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the Qatar Grand Prix. Now, he adds the WTA 1000 event in Doha to his list.

In the early years of his career, Ronaldinho had a stint with Paris Saint-Germain, becoming one of the club's most recognizable figures in the early 2000s. Notably, PSG is currently owned by Qataris, and the club is sponsored by Qatar Airways.

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Elena Rybakina sets up semi-final with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at Qatar Open after ending run of Leylah Fernandez

Rybakina triumphs over Leylah

The Kazakh player continues her impressive form, securing her seventh consecutive victory. Rybakina clinched the Abu Dhabi title last week by defeating Daria Kasatkina in the final (6-1, 6-4). This week at the Qatar Open, she has secured three more impressive wins, earning her a spot in the tournament's semifinals.

In her latest match, Rybakina defeated the 2021 US Open finalist, Leylah Fernandez, with a score of 6-4, 6-2. The Canadian player seems to have found her stride again, delivering strong performances in recent months, currently holding the world No. 33 ranking and being a seeded player at Indian Wells in two weeks.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion will face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the upcoming match, as Pavlyuchenkova advanced by overcoming Danielle Collins (7-5, 6-4). The Russian player will need to surpass Rybakina to reach her first final since the 2021 French Open, where she lost the title to Krejcikova.

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We're just here for the handshake: Victoria Azarenka left not amused after defeating Jelena Ostapenko again at Qatar Open