Sak Attack: Sakkari Shocks Swiatek for Third Doha Semifinal

By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, February 12, 2026
Photo credit: Antoine Couvercelle/ROLEX

One match point and a 5-2 lead slipped from Maria Sakkari’s grip and the gloom of Doha ghosts began biting at her heels.

Seeking her first win over Iga Swiatek in nearly five years, Sakkari’s self-belief never wavered.

A strong-willed Sakkari broke Swiatek in the final game wrapping a stunning 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 upset of the three-time Doha champion to reach her third Qatar Total Energies Open semifinal.

It was Sakkari’s first win over Swiatek since the 2021 WTA Finals—and marked the first time the Greek has scored two Top 10 wins at the same tournament since the 2022 WTA Finals.

Sakkari, who ended the 2025 season ranked No. 52, rises up to No. 33 in the WTA Live Rankings.

The 2024 Indian Wells finalist will face either 14th-seeded Karolina Muchova or Anna Kalinskaya for a spot in Saturday’s final. 

“I’m speechless because it’s been a while since I had a big win like today,” said Sakkari, who suffered her fourth straight loss to Swiatek 6-3, 6-2, in the 2025 Doha second round last February. “When you drop in the rankings and you’re not playing the semis, you start doubting yourself and think you’re never beating those players again.

“Last year in the second round against her I was not confident. This year I have to say it’s different. I felt a lot better.”

Six-time major champion Swiatek carried an 18-2 Doha record onto stadium court today, but the Pole’s flat backhand frequently found net and her net play was suspect.

On Sakkari’s third match point, Swiatek was nearly on top of the net when she bumped a routine forehand volley into net to end a fierce fight in two hours, 29 minutes.

“It’s amazing,” Sakkari said. “This is one of the best tournaments of the season so it’s a huge honor. 

“It’s a privilege to be in that position again. After a while I missed that feeling of going deep in tournaments. I feel like we’ve put in a lot of work with [Coach] Tom [Hill] and the rest of the team. I feel like it’s a nice gift for us.”

Sakkari applied her speed, skill shifting spins, tenacity and variety to bounce back from a first set that saw Swiatek surge through five straight games to take a one-set lead in runaway fashion.

Exploiting the high-bouncing Doha court with her heavy topspin forehand, Sakkari broke for a  2-0 second-set lead. Sakkari held with a shout for a 4-1 second-set lead. 

The top seed reeled off three games in a row to level. Then Swiatek gained two break points in the ninth game. Swiatek was one point from serving for the semifinal, but Sakkari would not crack.

Playing tremendous defense and anticipating the direction of a Swiatek drive, Sakkari staved off a deep drive to save the second break point grinding through a hard-fought hold for 5-4.

Riding that momentum, Sakkari spit back a deep forehand return drawing an errant forehand reply for triple set point.

On her second set point, Sakkari closed when Swiatek flew a backhand beyond the baseline. It was Swiatek’s 16th backhand error. The Greek forced a final set after one hour, 24 minutes.

It was the first set Sakkari took from Swiatek since the 2021 WTA Finals.

Standing firm under stress again, Sakkari smacked a superb running forehand pass crosscourt, celebrating with a clenched fist to Coach Tom Hill as she held after deuce for a 2-1 lead in the decider.

Sakkari broke twice in succession for a 4-2 lead. Saving two break points in the seventh game—including banging a backhand winner down the line on the second break point—Sakkari held with a loud “Come on!” for 5-2.

Still, Swiatek was not done.

Earning break point in the ninth game, Swiatek sped up to a short ball, retrieved it on a double bounce and initially won the point as Sakkari protested the Pole got the ball on the second bounce and challenged the call.

The delay to show the replay and correct the call to a double bounce likely took a toll on Sakkari’s fraying nerves. Struggling to find the speed and angle on her serve, Sakkari saw Swiatek scald a forehand return winner for a third break point. Another heavy forehand return drew the error as Swiatek broke back for 4-5.

Confronting match point in the 10th game, Swiatek slid her fifth ace out wide to save it then elevated her game firing a forehand down the line that helped her hold to level at 5-all. 

Shaking off the near miss, Sakkari sped through the lone love hold of the set for 6-5.

Swiatek sent a forehand wide to face two more match points. The Wimbledon winner saved the first when a Sakkari backhand return went long. 

Sakkari’s speed saved her on the third match point as she ran down a ball in the corner and forced Swiatek to hit one more shot. Swiatek had her nose near the net but badly bungled a forehand volley into the net to end it sending Sakkari into her third Doha semifinal.

Earlier, Jelena Ostapenko powered into her ninth WTA 1000 semifinal sweeping Italian lucky loser Elisabetta Cocciaretto 7-5, 6-4 in 100 minutes. Cocciaretto had upset third-seeded Coco Gauff on Tuesday.

“I think she played a really great match,” Ostapenko said. “I mean, she had some great wins. Like, she beat very good players here, so I knew it was going to be a tough match.

“Yeah, I was playing a little bit against myself as well today. I think what matters, in deciding moments I was fighting, and I managed to win the match.”

Two-time Doha finalist Ostapenko will face either Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina or Montreal champion Victoria Mboko for a spot in Saturday’s final.