By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, February 14, 2025
Jelena Ostapenko broke five times thrashing Iga Swiatek 6-3, 6-1 snapping the three-time champion’s 15-match Doha winning streak to power into her second Doha final.
Photo credit: MohamedFarag/Getty
In her younger years, Jelena Ostapenko was a competitive ballroom dancer.
Recalling her roots, Ostapenko slam-danced defending champion Iga Swiatek out of Doha high-stepping into the final with a masterful performance.
Rocking back and forth in a predatory return position, Ostapenko broke five times thrashing Swiatek 6-3, 6-1 snapping the three-time champion’s 15-match Doha winning streak to power into her second Qatar Total Energies Open final.
There is a time and place for everything.
Facing fellow French Open champion Ostapenko on a hard court is not the time or place for Swiatek, who looked overwhelmed and out of answers nearly from the start.
It’s a historic win for 2016 Doha finalist Ostapenko.
The explosive Latvian improved to 5-0 lifetime vs. Swiatek becoming the first woman to beat the former No. 1 five times. Ostapenko remains the only active woman to remain undefeated against the powerful Pole with at least two matches played. Former world No. 1 Ash Barty was 2-0 vs. Swiatek prior to her retirement.
“I feel like this court has a special energy–-it was always helping me,” Ostapenko said in her on-court interview. “I was pretty confident today when I went on the court.
“I was pretty confident, obviously, that I will win against her. We played a lot of matches and I know how to play her. I'm really happy with how I'm handling my emotions this week. Just so happy to be in the final so thank you guys.”
Stop and think about what Ostapenko has achieved this week.
Confidence was fleeting as she arrived in Doha spiraling to five opening-round losses in her last six tournaments—a litany of losses stretching back to last August—and has basically obliterated all comers in this dynamic desert dance.
Ostapenko crushed two-time major finalist Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-2 in the round of 16, smoked fan favorite Ons Jabeur by the same score yesterday—then thanked the pro-Ons crowd for making her mad and fueling her fury—and thoroughly outclassed Swiatek today. Only hard-hitting Liudmila Samsonova, who plays a similar grip and rip style, has challenged Ostapenko in five wins this week.
It’s the third WTA 1000 final for Ostapenko, who has beaten two Top 5-ranked players in the same event for the first time this week.
Next up for Ostapenko is 2019 Roland Garros semifinalist Amanda Anisimova in a clash of unseeded finalists.
A resurgent Anisimova swept Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-3 in today's second semifinal. It was Anisimova's fifth Top-30 win of the week as she reached her fifth WTA final.
World No. 41 Anisimova is playing for her third career title and first since 2022 Melbourne.
In their lone prior meeting at the 2022 Doha, Ostapenko edged Anisimova 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
"For sure I’ve been putting in a lot of work; me and my team have done a great job in the preseason," Anisimova told Andy Taylor in her on-court interview. "I think it’s really showing up here and so I’m really happy with the results.
"I think getting all these matches under my belt is great. I’m just super happy to be in the final here in Doha."
Anisimova expects another ballistic battle between Ostapenko in a clash of two of the best backhands in the sport.
"It was a very tough match [last time]," Anisimova said of Ostapenko. "I think she really likes the court here. She’s been playing lights out. It’s gonna be a tough one, but I’m looking forward to it. It’s exciting."
The 27-year-old Ostapenko, who partnered Hsieh Su-Wei to last month's Australian Open doubles final is seeking her ninth career singles crown.
“I honestly love this tournament,” Ostapenko said. “Every time I’m waiting for this tournament to happen it’s really great to come here…I’m really pleased.”
In recent years, Swiatek has covered the Qatar court as if it were her own backyard.
Tonight, she often wasn’t even in the picture as Ostapenko zapped winners down the line seemingly at will.
It’s Swiatek’s first Doha loss since she bowed to two-time major champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2020. Ostapenko denied Swiatek’s bid to win four Doha titles in a row and join former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki as the second woman since 2000 to win the same tournament title four years running.
A problem for Swiatek is her topspin, which can confound many top opponents, sits in the 5’10” Latvian’s strike zone. A bigger problem is Swiatek cannot read the Ostapenko backhand and looked befuddled by the Latvian’s sudden change of direction like a boxer who can’t see the knockout punch coming.
On a breezy evening, Ostapenko came out blasting breezing through eight of the first nine points for a 2-0 lead.
Swiatek slid her first ace, capping a love hold in the seventh game.
Two games later, Ostapenko unleashed a barrage of blistering returns Swiatek could not even reach. Pounding a pair of backhand return strikes down the line, Ostapenko hit a sharp, short forehand angled return for triple set point.
The second seed saved two break points, but Ostapenko kept swinging wit ominous intent.
On her third set point, Ostapenko drew a stray forehand and screamed “come on!” seizing an imposing 35-minute set. As she walked to her court-side seat, Ostapenko erupted with another loud “come on!” as if letting Swiatek and Polish fans know she was fully engaged.
The reigning Roland Garros champion left the court for a bathroom break to reset while Ostapenko stood behind the baseline taking shadow swings.
Ripping her backhand down the line with ferocity, Ostapenko left Swiatek frozen at times, converting her fourth break point for a 2-0 second-set lead.
Despite three double faults, Ostapenko fended off a break point in the third game, consolidating the break for 3-0. A frustrated Swiatek flung her Tecnifibre stick against the white bench for the changeover.
A frazzled Swiatek slapped a routine smash into net then was given a guided tour of the Qatar court by Ostapenko who jerked the former world No. 1 all over the place before pelting a backhand winner down the line for triple break point. When Swiatek netted a forehand, Ostapenko celebrated her fourth break and a 4-0 lead with a loud come on.
By then, Ostapenko had pounded 15 more winners—21 to 6—in this semifinal. Though she double-faulted away one break, Ostapenko reigned winners scoring her fifth break for 5-1.
Curling a crosscourt forehand behind Swiatek, Ostapenko capped one of her best performances since she won her maiden title at the 2017 Roland Garros with her 24th winner.