Press releases

24 Feb 2022

Qatar Open: Belarus’ Sabalenka reaches quarterfinal

MINSK, 24 February (BelTA) – Belarus’ world number 2 Aryna Sabalenka has advanced to the Qatar Open quarterfinal, BelTA has learned.

On 23 February in the round of Last 16 the Belarusian dismissed Switzerland’s world number 41 Jil Teichmann 6-2, 6-1 in just over an hour. Earlier, the Belarusian beat France’s world number 37 Alize Cornet, 6-2, 6-2, to move to the Qatar Open round three. In the quarterfinal, Aryna Sabalenka will meet world number 8 Iga Swiatek of Poland, who defeated Russia’s world number 28 Daria Kasatkina in straight sets.

Belarus’ world number 61 Aliaksandra Sasnovich lost to Tunisia’s world number 10 Ons Jabeur, 6-1, 5-7, 4-6. In the opener the Belarusian eased past China’s world number 66 Zhang Shuai, 6-1, 6-1. Aliaksandra Sasnovich had to go through qualifying to reach the main draw. the Belarusian saw off Romania’s world number 101 Ana Bogdan, 6-1, 6-1, in the first qualifying round, and beat world’s number 324 Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium, 6-3, 6-2, in the second qualifying round. In the doubles’ first round Aliaksandra Sasnovich and Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk saw off Romania’s Irina Bara and Slovakia’s Kristina Kucova 7-6 (7-3), 6-2. The Belarusian-Ukrainian duo then lost 0-6, 4-6 to Belgium-Russia tandem Elise Mertens and Veronika Kudermetova.

Former world number one Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, currently ranked 16, did not play world number 60 Madison Brengle of the United States in the second round due to an injury. The Belarusian saw off Kazakhstan’s world number 42 Yulia Putintseva, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5, in the opening round.

The Qatar Open will finish on 26 February.