Alcaraz outduels Sinner to reach French Open final

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.

ROTTERDAM: Carlos Alcaraz scraped his way into the final of the Rotterdam Open on Saturday with a hard-fought and entertaining three-set win over Hubert Hurkacz.

Superior court coverage and retrieving from the Spanish world No. 3 overcame stubborn resistance from the Pole for a 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 win to set up a clash with Australia’s Alex de Minaur in Sunday’s final.

“It was a very tight first set. I think he had chances to make it 6-0 so I just tried to fight every ball, every point,” said Alcaraz.

“I just tried to stay in there, keep fighting all the time and it paid off,” he added.

Alcaraz got off to a slow start, broken to love in his very first service game and allowing Hurkacz to race into a 3-0 lead in the first set.

He faced another break point in his next service game but saved it with a glorious crosscourt forehand and managed to hold onto serve.

Alcaraz survived another three break points and then fought his way back into the match with a break of his own, seizing the game with a forehand smash after a lengthy rally.

The momentum shifted in the Spaniard’s favor and a double-fault from Hurkacz gave the top seed the opportunity to serve out the set.

Again Hurkacz had the opportunity to break, but Alcaraz held firm and sealed the set with a forehand drive volley winner.

After the topsy-turvy first set, the second proceeded more conventionally, on serve until the tie-break.

The tie-break was also nip and tuck, both players squandering chances to seize the advantage.

But a double-fault from Alcaraz at 5-4 up gave Hurkacz an opportunity, and the Pole needed no second invitation, taking the set as the Spaniard netted a simple backhand groundstroke.

The decisive set started the same way as the first, with an early break of serve — this time to Alcaraz who brought the crowd to its feet.

That eventually proved enough to break the Polish resistance, as Hurkacz failed to make inroads into the Alcaraz serve.

Serving for the set at 5-3, Alcaraz booked his place in his 22nd ATP tour final with a trademark forehand winner up the line.

“I want to be the first Spanish player to be able to win this tournament. I’m going to go for it. I’m really happy to be able to play a final in Rotterdam,” said the 21-year-old.

In Saturday’s first semifinal, De Minaur brought to an end the extraordinary giant-killing run of Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci with a straight-sets win.

De Minaur was too consistent for the error-prone Bellucci, who was unable to repeat his earlier heroics against Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas, going down 6-1, 6-2.

“I’m very happy with the level today,” said De Minaur.

“He’s been playing with a lot of confidence this whole week, so I knew it was going to be a very tough battle,” added the third-seeded Australian.

Runner-up last year to world number one Jannik Sinner, De Minaur has enjoyed comfortable passage to the final, winning all his matches in straight sets.

“The Dutch crowd always treats me very well, and I love coming back here. So hopefully I can get a title this time,” he said.