Djokovic withdrawal shakes up French Open as Swiatek roars into semifinals

DOHA: Three-time defending Qatar Open champion Iga Swiatek scraped her way past Czech youngster Linda Noskova on Wednesday to set up a quarterfinal with last year’s runner-up Elena Rybakina.

Swiatek dropped a set in Doha for the first time since 2022 — ending a run of 25 won in a row — but recovered to advance 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 6-4 and extend her winning streak at the tournament to 14 matches.

The five-time Grand Slam champion will take on 2022 Wimbledon winner Rybakina on Thursday for a place in the semifinals. Swiatek beat Rybakina in straight sets in the final 12 months ago.

“I would say Linda played amazing, and for sure she didn’t make it easy for me,” said Swiatek who admitted she faces a tough assignment against Rybakina.

“She likes playing here, she’s been in a final here last year, and last year also was tough. So I’ll be ready for some intense rallies, and some low balls, and good serving.”

The Pole’s reign in Qatar looked in jeopardy when the 20-year-old Noskova, a semifinalist in Abu Dhabi last week, dominated a first set tiebreak after being unable to capitalize on five break points.

Swiatek, without a title since the French Open in June, broke to go 3-2 up in the second set. Noskova immediately hit back but the second seed responded in kind to regain her advantage.

Noskova had a break point as her opponent served for the set but Swiatek kept her cool to force a decider.

Swiatek won the first two games of the final set before Noskova reeled off the next three for a 3-2 edge, and the Pole was wobbling in the eighth game.

However from 0-30 down on her serve, she rattled off six straight points to hold and then land the crucial break with a forehand into the open court.

Swiatek closed out the victory in the following game despite winning fewer points than Noskova overall.

Rybakina progressed earlier in the day with a 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 win over Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova.

The fifth seed from Kazakhstan battled inconsistency in the first set after racing into a 3-0 lead, failing to convert three set points in the 10th game before finally taking charge in the tie-break.

Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina broke world No. 46 Sramkova to start the second set and won the first four games as she wrapped up the victory with minimal fuss.

“Tough opponent as always,” said Rybakina of facing Swiatek for the eighth time.

“Going to focus on myself, and try to stay aggressive on the court. It’s definitely the toughest opponent so far on this tournament, so hopefully I can do well.”

Rybakina’s coach Stefano Vukov remains banned following the conclusion of an investigation, the WTA confirmed on Tuesday.

He was provisionally suspended last month for allegedly breaching the tour’s code of conduct.

Jasmine Paolini became the latest seed to fall on Wednesday as the fourth-ranked Italian was blown away 6-2, 6-2 by the mercurial Jelena Ostapenko.

Ostapenko, who had not won back-to-back matches since Wimbledon until this week, will play Ons Jabeur for a place in the semifinals.

Jabeur, the world No. 35, defeated Sofia Kenin of the US 6-3, 6-4 to make her third Doha quarterfinal.

Four of the top 10 seeds fell on Tuesday as world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Zheng Qinwen and Paula Badosa all exited in the second round.

Sixth seed Jessica Pegula avoided the same fate as she defeated Daria Kasatkina 6-3,7-5.

Ekaterina Alexandrova followed up her victory over Sabalenka by brushing aside Elize Mertens in two sets, while Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk beat Poland’s Magda Linette 6-4, 6-2.

LONDON: Four goals, four red cards and a last-gasp equalizer that will go down in English soccer lore.

It was quite the wild ride in the 120th and final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

Everton captain James Tarkowski smashed a shot into the roof of the net in the eighth minute of stoppage time to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League.

It was virtually the last kick of the game, sparking wild celebrations inside one of English soccer’s most venerable and atmospheric stadiums, which will be demolished at the end of this season.

“Amazing to score and what an amazing night,” said Tarkowski, whose rare goal will be remembered as one of the great moments in Goodison Park’s long history.

The “Grand Old Lady” — as the stadium is fondly called by the locals — has been Everton’s home since 1892. The club is moving to a new 52,888-capacity venue at Bramley-Moore Dock on Liverpool’s waterfront.

Tarkowski’s strike denied Liverpool a victory that would have lifted the leaders nine points clear atop the league. Instead, Liverpool’s advantage over Arsenal is seven points after 24 games.

Beto put Everton ahead in the 11th minute — the striker celebrated by hitting LeBron James’ “Silencer” move — before Alexis Mac Allister equalized in the 16th by heading home a right-wing cross from Mohamed Salah, who put Liverpool in front in the 73rd with his league-leading 22nd goal of the campaign.

An incredible finish

Then came Tarkowski’s amazing — and, to some, fitting — intervention, with his goal only awarded after a long, agonizing video review for a potential offside in the buildup.

“I just saw the ball going wide and thought, ‘Last minute, why not?’ Tarkowski said. “It managed to fall to me and I let it rip.”

The action didn’t stop there.

After the final whistle, Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure appeared to celebrate in front of Liverpool’s fans and was confronted by Liverpool substitute Curtis Jones, leading to a melee involving more players, officials, stewards and even police officers.

Doucoure and Jones both were shown second yellow cards, while Liverpool manager Arne Slot and his assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, got straight red cards. Slot might have been sent off for shaking the hand of referee Michael Oliver aggressively.

Goodbye to Goodison Park

The home fans created a typically feverish atmosphere — blue smoke filled the air around the ground before kickoff and Everton’s players were given a rapturous welcome as they arrived for the game — and they witnessed the most amazing of finishes.

“The place was boiling hot all night, emotional,” Everton manager David Moyes said. “It was an incredible atmosphere inside the stadium.”

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk acknowledged it was “intense” and had his own opinion on the post-match melee.

“I think Abdoulaye Doucoure wanted to provoke our fans,” Van Dijk said. “I think that is what I saw and Curtis Jones didn’t think it was the right thing to do. And then you know what happens if there is a little tussle.”

As for Slot’s thoughts on the game, the occasion and perhaps his own red card, they will have to wait. He wasn’t allowed to give post-match interviews after getting sent off, under Premier League rules.

The stats will show the teams met 120 times in all competitions at Goodison Park, starting with the first meeting in 1894, and each won 41 times.

It was a rearranged league game, with the original meeting — scheduled for Dec. 7 — postponed because of stormy weather.