Qatar Open: Swiatek into final after Pliskova withdraws due to back injury

World No 1 Iga Swiatek, the top seed, moved into the final of the Qatar Open after Karolina Pliskova withdrew before the match at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha on Friday evening.

Pliskova, who won the title in Cluj-Napoca last week and who beat Naomi Osaka in the previous round, cited a lower back injury for her withdrawal.

“Unfortunately I had too many matches in last couple of days and my body just didn’t react well, especially after last night having a tough match against Naomi,” Pliskova told reporters.

“I felt like I was pushing it a little bit over limit and then I felt very big pain in my lower back so I’m not able to compete anymore.”

Swiatek to play Rybakina or Pavlyuchenkova next

Swiatek, ranked No 1, will play the winner of the match between Kazakh Elena Rybakina, the No 3 seed, and Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova next.

Earlier in the tournament, the 22-year-old Pole defeated Romanian Sorana Cirstea (6-1, 6-1), Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova, the No 14 seed (6-1, 6-4) and Belarusian Victoria Azarenka (6-4, 6-0).

Pliskova, ranked No 59, won against Russian wildcard Anna Kalinskaya (2-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4), Russian Anastasia Potapova (6-1, 5-7, 6-4), Linda Noskova (3-6, 7-5, 6-1) and Japanese Naomi Osaka (7-6 (6), 7-6 (5)) in the previous rounds of the Qatar tournament.

Doha WTA 1000, other semi-final result (Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, hard, USD 3.211.715):

• Elena Rybakina vs. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova