American youngster Catherine Bellis stunned defending champion Karolina Pliskova 7-6(4) 6-3 to make the Quarter-Finals in Doha.
The 18 year old who is ranked at 48 in the world looked impressive throughout as she broke down the defending champion’s serve. There were eight breaks of serve in the first set including four in a row towards the end of the set as the American continued to capitalise on the world number five’s mistakes. An important mini-break on the ninth point proved pivotal for the American as she stormed to the first set.
Bellis, who made her breakthrough last year in the middle-east by defeating Agnieszka Radwanska in Dubai, continued her aggressive hitting and moved the Czech Republican all over the court. After a 15 point game the American eventually broke to secure a 4-2 lead and inch closer to a massive victory. Bellis took her first match and secured the biggest victory of her young career in an hour and 38 minutes.
As for Pliskova she will lose a lot of ranking points as she is defending champion in Qatar and will have to improve her game if she wants to compete for titles again. However take nothing away from Bellis as she keeps on improving with every match.
The American will now play second seed Simona Halep, who dispatched Latvian Anastasija Sevastova 6-4 6-3 in a comfortable match for the Romanian. The world number two broke five times as she edged past Sevastova in an hour and five minutes to make the last eight for a third consecutive tournament in 2018.
After the match the Romanian felt relieved to advance in Doha, “It’s a great feeling that I could win this match. It’s never easy to play against her because she’s a great player. I was a little bit nervous, but it was a pleasure to play here on Centre Court and maybe play some of my best tennis.”
Muguruza Marches On
Earlier on in the day, Garbine Muguruza found some renewed confidence as she dominated Sorana Cirstea in convincing fashion. The Spaniard secured a 6-0 6-4 victory as she looked to be more positive and was able to play with more freedom on court. After 64 minutes, Muguruza sealed victory as she moved into the Quarter-Finals as she looks to rectify an average start to the season.
She will now play Caroline Garcia in the last eight after the seventh seed edged past Russian teenager Anna Blinkova 7-6(3) 7-5. The player from France after just under two hours despite struggling to win points on her second serve. Garcia and Muguruza have met once before with the Spaniard winning that in a convincing display in Tokyo last year.
