WTA Qatar Open Semi-Finals Round-up | Victoria Mboko crushes Ostapenko as Muchova stages comeback against Sakkari

The Qatar Open semifinals were completed this Friday, deciding the finalists of the tournament. After the quarterfinals saw the exit of the two favorites—Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek—this round was more open, offering a strong opportunity for players outside the top 10 to reach a WTA 1000 final.

Victoria Mboko surprised former French Open champion and two-time Doha finalist Jelena Ostapenko, defeating her in straight sets. On the other side, Karolina Muchova overcame a resilient Maria Sakkari in three sets, staging a notable comeback to claim the victory and reach her third WTA 1000 final, in pursuit of her first title at this category.

It was a straightforward victory for Canadian star Victoria Mboko (No. 13), who reached the second WTA 1000 semifinal of her career. This time, she defeated Jelena Ostapenko (No. 24) and secured her place in the tournament’s top 10 by the end. The 19-year-old had already eliminated two top-10 players: first Mira Andreeva, then recent Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina. The confidence she brought to the court allowed her to dominate once more, overwhelming the former Roland Garros champion 6-3, 6-2.

For Ostapenko, Doha has been one of the tournaments that has historically brought her the best results. She reached the final twice, most recently in 2025, and she is the player with the most wins in the tournament’s history. She aimed to reach a third final in Doha and began with an early break that put her ahead after only a few minutes of play. Ostapenko led 2-0, and it seemed it would be a real problem for Mboko.

However, the teenager quickly responded and returned the break just minutes later. Mboko won three consecutive games and began to look more comfortable against Ostapenko’s powerful shots. Ostapenko faced an opponent who returned almost every ball, creating a wall at the baseline. Ostapenko leveled at 3-3, but Mboko performed better in the closing moments of the first set, winning three more games in a row to take it 6-3.

In the second set, the teenager took complete control of the match, while Ostapenko showed signs of frustration early on. Mboko capitalized on momentum and displayed remarkable maturity on court, converting three of four break opportunities in the following minutes to take a 5-0 lead, thanks also to excellent service games. The Canadian had won 11 of the last 12 games, and Ostapenko began to resign herself to a remarkable level from the Canadian.

In the final stages, Ostapenko regained one break and reduced the deficit to 2-5 on her serve, but it only slightly improved the final score. Mboko did not hesitate when she had the opportunity to close out the match and converted her second match point to win 6-3, 6-2 after one hour and 15 minutes. The Canadian reaches the fourth final of her career and her second WTA 1000 final after winning the Canadian Open in August last year.

Two big talents of the Tour who were not among the favorites, but whose presence at this stage was not a total surprise. Maria Sakkari (No. 52), who has dropped in results and ranking over the past couple of seasons, saw her best chance to progress far in a tournament after a notable victory over Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals. The former No. 3 came off an impressive week, including two top-10 wins against Paolini and Swiatek, to reach a WTA 1000 semifinal for the 11th time in her career.

The beginning of the match was balanced. Muchova (No. 19) broke in the third game, and Sakkari immediately returned the break in the following game. Both players had to fight to hold serve in the next games, although the Czech appeared closer to taking the lead. However, it was Sakkari who performed better at key moments, saving up to four break points in the seventh game and later taking a break in her favor at the first opportunity. She won three consecutive games to close the first set 6-3.

In the opening minutes of the second set, the Greek took a 2-0 lead and seemed to be in full control of the match. Sakkari won five games in a row, displaying strong service games and dominance from the baseline. However, Muchova remained calm and found space to return to the match. The Czech capitalized on break opportunities and Sakkari’s visible frustration, winning five games in a row. Unforced errors were frequent on Sakkari’s side. Although she managed to win a couple of games before the end of the set, it was not enough, and Muchova took the second set 6-4.

The final set left little room for discussion. Muchova’s baseline consistency became decisive as Sakkari physically and mentally declined at the latter stage of the match. An early break in Muchova’s favor destabilized the Greek, allowing the Czech to advance to a 5-0 lead. Sakkari avoided a bagel by saving a match point with her serve, but Muchova did not hesitate when presented with the opportunity, finishing the match 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, winning 12 of the last 14 games contested. Muchova ensures a ranking of at least No. 13 and surpasses Linda Noskova as the top Czech player. She will face Victoria Mboko in the final on Saturday.