[divider style=”solid” color=”#cccccc” opacity=”0.5″ icon=”arrow-down” icon_color=”#666666″ icon_size=”15″ placement=”down”]
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-microphone”] Match Recap from Announcer Andy Taylor, Voice of the Qatar Total Open
Petra Kvitova advances to the Semifinals
Tremendous match. Electric atmosphere. Four words mandatory: “Thank you Ons Jabeur.”
All week, the Tunisian has been Doha’s main attraction – and with each victory, she single-handedly drove ticket sales at an event notorious for empty seats. Before Sunday, she had never won a Singles match in Qatar, qualifying or main draw. After tonight’s gutsy fight against 2018 champion Petra Kvitova, she leaves Doha knowing she gave everything. For the first time, she was one of the last eight standing at a WTA Premier-5 tournament.
Petra’s win required every last drop of physical and mental energy. With the stadium clearly – and loudly – favoring her opponent, she dug into the vast chasm of Fed Cup experience that has made her a 6-TIME Fed Cup Champion. During each tiebreak, when it mattered most, she silenced fans early with clutch shot-making, earning the victory in two hard-fought sets.
At the end of the day, this match will remain a faint blip on Kvitova’s career radar. However, all things considered, it should be remembered as one of Petra’s most impressive performances. This was more than forehands and backhands. This was imposing one’s will on an opponent AND an entire stadium.
The 2018 champion is back in the Semifinals. Can she earn back-to-back Premier-5 Doha titles? Petra Kvitova is just two victories away.
Head to Head: Second meeting between these two players
Day-5. Updated Singles Draw
[/alert]Day-5. Updated Doubles Draw
[/alert][8] Petra Kvitova -11- (CZE) | Quarterfinal Announcer Introduction
She is a 2-time Wimbledon Champion, a 3-time Grand Slam Finalist, an Olympic Bronze Medalist – and has lifted her country to the Fed Cup title SIX times in the past 9-years. Two-years-ago on this court, she defeated Garbine Muguruza in the championship match, lifting Doha’s famous Falcon for the first time – defeating three top-5 opponents to capture her 5th Premier-5 title. Since 2009, she has amassed 27 career Singles titles, is a 36-time Finalist on Tour, and has been ranked as high as World #2. Back for her 6th Qatar Total Open – she’s defeated 2016 Champion Carla Suarez Navarro and 2016 Finalist Jelena Ostapenko to reach the Final-8. From the Czech Republic, please welcome 2018 Doha Champion Petra Kvitova.
- QF — W | [WC] Ons Jabeur -44- (TUN) | Score: 7-6(2), 7-6(4)
- R3 — W | Jelena Ostapenko -42- (LAT) | Score: 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 | RECAP
- R2 — W | Carla Suarez Navarro -70- (ESP) | Score: 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 | RECAP
- R1 — BYE
Announcer Corner | Doha: Petra Kvitova
In 2018, Petra was unstoppable. She came into Doha on a 7-match win streak, after winning St. Petersburg and both of her Fed Cup Singles Rubbers in Prague. She opened her Premier-5 run with a win over Cagla Buyukakcay, then outlasted Agnieszka Radwanska after losing a tough 1st-set tiebreak. Petra then took-out World #3 Elina Svitolina, World #10 Julia Görges, World #1 Caroline Wozniacki, and up-ended World #4 Garbine Muguruza in the championship match. She extended her win-streak to 14-matches at Indian Wells, before falling to 16-year-old Amanda Anisimova in the 3rd-Round of the BNP Paribas Open. Kvitova won 5-titles that year and made her triumphant return to the top-10, after 2016’s knife attack nearly ended her extraordinary career.
[WC] Ons Jabeur -44- (TUN) | Quarterfinal Announcer Introduction
Last night, Tunisia’s top talent delivered one of the biggest wins of her career, upsetting World #3 and 2017 Doha Champion Karolina Pliskova to reach the Quarterfinals. And it’s been an historic 2020. At the Australian Open, she became the first Arab woman in tennis history to reach the Quarterfinals of a Major. Last week in Dubai, she played an incredible match with Simona Halep, taking the World #2 to a deciding-set tiebreak. And on Monday, climbed to a career-high ranking of World #44. Making her WTA Premier-5 Quarterfinal debut on center court in Doha – Please welcome a 100% Tunisian Product, Ons Jabeur.
- QF — L | [8] Petra Kvitova -11- (CZE) | Score: 6-7(2), 6-7(4)
- R3 — W | [03] Karolina Pliskova -03- (CZE) | Score: 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 | RECAP
- R2 — W | Jennifer Brady -45- (USA) | Score: 6-4, 6-3 | RECAP
- R1 — W | [Q] Katerina Siniakova -58- (CZE) | Score: 6-3, 6-2 | RECAP
Announcer Corner | Doha: Ons Jabeur
What an amazing week for Ons Jaber. What a remarkable two months! In just one week, the Qatar Total Open has evolved from one of Jabeur’s most abysmal tournaments on Tour, to the spot where she reached her first career Premier-5 Quarterfinal. Additionally, had she not suffered a hamstring injury late in her Round of 16 win over Karolina Pliskova – tonight’s outcome may have been different.
You see, before this week, Ons had never won a Qualifying or Main Draw Singles match in Doha. Last year, she fell in the Opening Round to 2016 Champion Carla Suarez Navarro. However in Doubles – thanks to several last minute, Fed Cup travel-related withdrawals – she and Alison Riske partnered to reach the 2019 Semifinals.
This year, Ons became Doha’s main attraction, inspiring fans the world over. None more so than her Tunisian fan base, still vibrating from her historic Quarterfinal run at the Australian Open. Ons Jabeur has arrived, and she’s done it on her terms. Her independent spirit and unapologetic uniqueness – both in character and playing style – have created a sensation that transcends North Africa. She’s earned fans around the world through blood, sweat and unrelenting persistence through set-back. She’s done it the hard way.
