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Iga Swiatek has joined Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova in reaching at least eight consecutive quarterfinals at the WTA 1000 level, via OptaAce.
On Wednesday, world No. 1 Swiatek ousted Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-1 6-4 to reach the quarterfinal at a WTA 1000 event in Doha. By making it past Alexandrova, Swiatek made her eighth consecutive WTA 1000 quarterfinal. Since the introduction of the WTA 1000 format in 2009, only four players before Swiatek achieved the feat - Williams, Sharapova, Ashleigh Barty and Agnieszka Radwanska.
Swiatek, who already has 17 titles at the age of 22, has had lots of success early in her career at the WTA 1000 level. After winning the China Open in Beijing in October, Swiatek improved to six WTA 1000 titles.
8 - Iga Swiatek is the fifth player to make the quarter-finals for 8+ consecutive WTA-1000 appearances since the format introduction in 2009 after Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, Agnieszka Radwanska and Ashleigh Barty. Routine.#QatarOpen | @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/qJniBIcyBS
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) February 14, 2024
Swiatek beats Alexandrova for a WTA 1000 feat
Although the scoreline suggests that Swiatek pretty easily won the first set, the Pole could have easily found herself down by an early break but she managed to save two consecutive break points in the opening game. Alexandrova paid the price for not realizing her break point chances as Swiatek broke the Russian in the second game for the first break of the match.
In the sixth game, Swiatek went up by a double break and opened a 5-1 lead before routinely serving out for the first set in the following game.
Just like in the first set, Swiatek faced some break points at the start of the second set but again didn't allow Alexandrova to go up by a break after saving four break points in the second game. Five games later, Swiatek earned the first break of the set to open a 4-3 lead.
In the 10th game - when Swiatek was serving for the match - the Pole saved two break points before converting her fifth match point to complete a two-set win over Alexandrova.
After beating Alexandrova, Swiatek also defeated Victoria Azarenka to make the Doha semifinal. This week, Swiatek is bidding to win her third consecutive Doha title.