Clinical Rybakina ends Fernandez run in Doha to reach semi-finals

Elena Rybakina advanced to the semi-finals of the Qatar Open by beating Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-2 in clinical fashion in Doha.

The Kazakh fought back from a 4-1 double-break deficit in the first set, winning five games in a row to take the opener.

Rybakina’s blistering groundstrokes punctured the Canadian’s defences frequently as she accelerated to the finish line in the second, breaking Fernandez three times in a one-sided second stanza.

This defeat marks the end of a very positive week for Fernandez, who reached the second 1000-level quarter-final of career courtesy of some excellent tennis.

Today was a step too far, however, against an opponent in simply scintillating form.

The world No 4 has now reached six WTA1000 semi-finals. Only Iga Swiatek has made as many semi-finals in 1000-level events in the past year.

Her run in Doha marks a continuation of Rybakina’s exceptional form so far this season. Barring a shock second-round loss at the Australian Open, the Kazakh has been next to unstoppable, winning 14 and losing just two of her matches, picking up two titles along the way.

She will face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova next, after the Russian dispatched Danielle Collins in their quarter-final earlier in the day.

The Kazakh defeated Chinese Lin Zhu (6-2, 6-1) and edged out American Emma Navarro, the No 16 seed (6-1, 6-7 (6), 6-4) in the previous rounds of the Qatar tournament.

Earlier in the tournament, Fernandez, ranked No 38, won against Russian Liudmila Samsonova, the No 12 seed (7-5, 7-6 (4)), Spanish wildcard Paula Badosa (0-6, 6-2, 6-3) and Chinese Qinwen Zheng, the No 5 seed (7-5, 6-3).

Doha WTA 1000, other last-eight results (Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, hard, USD 3.211.715, most recent results first):

• Naomi Osaka vs. Karolina Pliskova
• Iga Swiatek vs. Victoria Azarenka
• Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova beat Danielle Collins (Q): 7-5, 6-4