Qatar Total Energies Open: Sakkari books spot in last four

Maria Sakkari pulled off the biggest upset of the 2026 season on Thursday afternoon, coming from a set down to stun top seed Iga Swiatek 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 to reach the semifinals of the Qatar TotalEnergies Open in Doha.

The world No. 52 produced a heroic performance, becoming the first player ever to defeat Swiatek in a completed WTA 1000 match after losing the opening set – snapping the Pole’s incredible 109-0 streak in such matches.

The match was a testament to Sakkari’s resilience. After a dominant opening set from world No. 2 Swiatek, Sakkari recalibrated her aggressive baseline game to force a decider. In a dramatic final set, Sakkari squandered a 5-2 lead and a match point as Swiatek fought back to level at 5-5.

However, the Greek star held her nerve to break in the final game, sealing her first victory over Swiatek in nearly five years. The latest one was registered at the WTA Finals 2021.

Sakkari’s road to the final four has been flawless until today, having dispatched Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva (7-6, 6-0), sixth seed Jasmine Paolini (6-4, 6-2), and Zeynep Sonmez (6-1, 6-3) in earlier rounds. Swiatek, a three-time Doha champion, exits the tournament following earlier wins over Daria Kasatkina and Janice Tjen.

Sakkari, now projected to jump back into the top 40, will face either the 14th seed Karolina Muchova or Anna Kalinskaya for a spot in the final.