Quarter final day in Doha, and some quality matches to be contested.
Qatar Total Open - a WTA Premier category tournament, on Hard Plexicushion, in Doha, Qatar, 11-16 February 2019.
Quarter finals
- Wildcard Elina Svitolina (4) v qualifier Karolina Muchova
Through the first seven games of set one, both players were solid on serve, Muchova relying on her second delivery to match her more credentialed opponent. To this stage, only one break point was created, and Svitolina failed to convert it.
The next two games changed the story with serve broken on each occasion, the second when Svitolina was serving for the set.
At 4-5, Muchova saved a set point with her backhand but couldn’t repeat it on the next when her backhand failed. 6-4 Svitolina.
In set two, Muchova saved a break point and levelled at 2-2. Another fighting effort saw the Czech player come back from 0-40 to deuce in the sixth game. However, a Svitolina return converted a fourth break point and she led 4-2. There was no more scoreboard resistance from Muchova and Svitolina won a semi final spot 6-4 6-2.
- Angie Kerber (3) defeated Barbora Strycova 1-6 6-2 7-6(4)
- Simona Halep (1) v Julia Goerges (9)
Goerges served first in the match, and was broken straight away, a combination of Halep’s strong returning and errors from the German racquet.
The top seed consolidated quickly for 2-0.
Halep broke again in game three, the final two points ripping return winners. Goerges first serve percentage was in the thirties, and she had won none of the points on her second attempts. 0-3.
Finally troubling the scoreboard in the fifth game, Goerges appeared more competitive, and this continued in the following game where some brilliant German forehands saw a Halep 40-15 lead vanish and a service break appear. 4-2 Romania.
The Goerges momentum was stopped immediately with a double fault and unforced errors. Halep had three break points, but only required one as she ran down a perfectly acceptable Goerges backhand to contribute a glorious backhand winner of her own up the line.
Serving for the set, Halep saw one set point disappear when Goerges delivered a terrific forehand volley at the net. Another left with a forehand return winner.
On the third break point, Halep hit the net and it was 3-5 with Goerges back in the match.
Goerges proceeded to win the next three games, and at 6-5 had broken the Halep serve three successive times.
However, Halep steadied when needing to hold and stay in the set, surrendering just the one point. 6-6 and a tie break.
Halep, despite all her earlier chances having gone, remained calm and disciplined. Her play throughout the tie break was impeccable, virtually error free, the backhand winner for 4-1 sublime.
The set to the top seed 7-6(1).
Halep saved a break point in game one of set two, but Goerges broke in game three with the second of two chances, the return forcing a Halep backhand to hit the net. 2-1 Goerges with serve to come.
After leading 3-2 and 40-15, Goerges saved a break point with an exquisite volley. A service winner saved a second. An ultimate hold for 4-2.
No more break concerns before Goerges was serving for the set at 5-4.
A poor game from Goerges, and with three break points, Halep used a backhand return winner to level at 5-5.
Goerges had break point but missed an easy forehand. Halep held and Goerges now needed to do the same to stay in the match.
As Halep had done in set one, the German player forced a tie break.
The first two points went against serve, but Goerges won the third point on her serve to lead 2-1. An awesome volley and a return winner from Goerges, both on the Halep serve, and it was 4-1. Halep hit a winner, but still trailed 2-5 with serves to come.
Goerges led 5-4 and had two serves in hand. Halep missed long and two set points arrived. Goerges wasted both. 6-6. Match point for Halep after a serve forehand combo. A Halep forehand winner and the top seed prevailed in a wonderful match 7-6(1) 7-6(6).
- Elise Mertens defeated Kiki Bertens (5) 6-4 6-3
Semi final match ups
Simona Halep (1) v wildcard Elina Svitolina (4)
Angie Kerber (3) v Elise Mertens
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