Three-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek cruised past Veronika Kudemertova 6-0 6-1 in 56 minutes to reach her first final in 2023 at the Qatar Total Energies Open.
Swiatek has improved her head-to-head record to 3-0. The Polish player has dropped just eight games in six sets in her head-to-head matches against Kudemertova.
Swiatek hit 14 winners to 5 unforced errors and broke Kudemertova’s serve five times. Kudemertova hit 4 winners to 15 unforced errors and never faced a break point.
“I was pretty worried about how I was going to compete with the conditions today, so I am glad that I could play the smart way. I am pretty happy that I was so solid. It always takes a lot against Jessica. She is a great player, a really solid player. I am not going to predict anything or overanalyze. I am just going out and play my best tennis and we will see”, said Swiatek.
Swiatek set up a final against number 2 seed Jessica Pegula. The Polish player leads 4-2 in her head-to-head matches against Colliins, but her US rival won their first 2023 match at the United Cup.
Jessica Pegula reached her sixth final of her career and the first title match of the season with her 6-2 4-6 6-1 win over Maria Sakkari. Pegula has advanced to her third final in the past year after saving q match point in the first round.
Sakkari holds a 4-3 lead in her head-to-head matches against Pegula.
Pegula opened up a 4-1 lead with two breaks in the first and fifth games of the first set. Sakkari pulled one break back in the sixth game for 2-4, but Pegula earned sealed the first set with her third break in the seventh game.
Pegula earned a break in the first game of the second set. Sakkari broke back in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2. Pegula broke again in the fifth game to open up a 4-2 lead. Sakkari pulled back on serve in the eighth game to draw level to 4-4. Pegula made two double faults to drop her serve in the 10th game, as she was serving to stay in the set, including one on set point, enabling Sakkari to level the match.
Afrer an eary trade of breaks at the start of the third set Pegula broke three more times to seal the win on her second match point with a forehand volley.
“That was my probably the hardest conditions I have ever had in, wind-wise. I am glad I did not get too frustrated. I played very smart”, said Pegula.
