By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday February 24th, 2022
Jelena Ostapenko stretched her career-best winning streak to nine with a dominant win over Garbine Muguruza.
Photo Source: Getty
The Jelena Ostapenko steam train keeps chugging on in Doha. The Latvian recorded her ninth straight victory on Thursday, six of which have come against former Grand Slam champions, defeating Garbiñe Muguruza 6-2 6-2 to reach the semifinals in Doha.
It’s a career-best streak for Ostapenko, who won her fifth career title at Dubai last week, and she will face Anett Kontaveit, the last player to defeat her (in the St. Petersburg final), owner of her own eight-match winning streak, in the semis.
Ostapenko v Grand Slam champions, Since Last Week
d. Kenin at Dubai, 6-1, 6-2
d. Swiatek at Dubai, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4)
d. Kvitova at Dubai, 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(9)
d. Halep at Dubai, 2-6, 7-6(0), 6-0
d. Krejcikova at Doha, 6-3, 6-2
d. Muguruza at Doha, 6-2, 6-2
Ostapenko struck 39 winners to just five for Muguruza, and broke serve six times on ten opportunities to win for the second time in five career meetings with the two-time major champion.
“I knew it was going to be a tough match against her, but I really knew I also have to be aggressive and take time away from her, which I think I did pretty well and I was dictating the game today,” Ostapenko said after the match. “I think from the beginning I started to hit winners, and I was stepping into the court. It was working pretty well.”
Kontaveit stopped Ons Jabeur 6-4 6-1 for her eighth win in succession, while Maria Sakkari took out Coco Gauff, 6-3, 6-3 and Iga Swiatek defeated World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka, 6-2, 6-3.
Here is the semifinal lineup for Doha: