Jessica Pegula, Elena Rybakina snap Doha upset streak

Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina ended the string of upsets dominating early-round action at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open on Wednesday, Pegula joining Rybakina in the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Daria Kasatkina.

Rybakina, the No. 5 seed, was through first after a trio of top seeds fell on Tuesday, defeating Rebecca Sramkova, 7-6 (1), 6-2.

“It was tough match,” the 2022 Wimbeldon champion said in her post-match press conference. “I think I started a little bit slow, and in the second set felt much more comfortable and more confident.”

Pegula reversed a 3-5 deficit in the second set to knock out Kasatkina, the No. 10 seed, in one hour and 39 minutes.

Pegula, Rybakina, and No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek are the only Top 8 seeds left in Doha after No. 3 seed Coco Gauff, No. 7 seed Zheng Qinwen, and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka all exited on Center Court.

The tournament’s biggest stage remained a tricky one for top players when No. 4 seed Jasmine Paolini opened play with a 6-2, 6-2 defeat to Jelena Ostapenko. Paolini, a finalist at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, was playing only her third tournament of the season following a third-round defeat at the Australian Open.

A former world No. 5, Ostapenko missed out on a seeding this week in Doha, which may be all for the best given the mixed fortunes of those ranked above her. The Latvian awaits the winner of the third round between Ons Jabeur and Sofia Kenin.

“I feel very special playing in Doha,” said Ostapenko, who first reached the finals of this tournament as a teenager in 2016. “I feel like this is the place where everything started for me, and after that I won Roland Garros. It’s a great atmosphere and I just love to be here.”