By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
World No 1 Iga Swiatek advanced to the final of the Qatar Open on Friday without hitting a ball after her semifinal opponent Karolina Pliskova withdrew injured.
Pliskova won the Cluj tournament in Romania last weekend but is suffering from a lower back injury, the WTA explained.
“Sorry for the tournament that I had to withdraw, but unfortunately I had too many matches in last couple of days, and my body just didn’t react well, especially after last night having a tough match against Naomi,” Pliskova said.
“I felt like I was pushing it a little bit over limit, and then I felt very big pain in my lower back, so I’m not able to compete anymore.”
The walkover is not counted towards Swiatek’s official win-loss record against Pliskova or otherwise, nor does it end Pliskova’s unbeaten streak.
Swiatek will face No 3 seed Elena Rybakina in the final on Sunday.
Rybakina is on an eight-match winning streak after capturing her seventh career title last week in Abu Dhabi. Also the champion in Brisbane at the start of January, her 2024 record now stands at 15-2.
The 22-year-old Pole is aiming for a third consecutive title in Doha.
Swiatek and Rybakina split two junior meetings in 2016 and 2017, and have played each other four times at pro level, with Rybakina leading 3-1. The Pole took their first meeting 7-6(5), 6-2 in the 2021 Ostrava quarterfinals, but Rybakina announced herself as one of Swiatek’s greatest threats with a trio of victories in 2023.