Iga Swiatek's bid for a fourth consecutive title at the Qatar Open pits the world No. 2 against an in-form Linda Noskova on Wednesday, with the Czech player bidding to take out another seeded player this week.
The second seed, though, has not dropped a set in 12 consecutive matches in Doha and seeks to extend that run in her sixth WTA match-up against her third-round opponent.
Match preview
© Imago
Maria Sakkari got a second shot at ending Swiatek's winning run in Doha, but the second seed got through in one hour and 22 minutes, sealing a 6-3, 6-2 success over the Greek player.
That triumph saw the Polish superstar improve to 14-1 at the Qatar Open, with 13 straight wins notched since losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2020.
Twelve of those triumphs have been in straight sets — Viktorija Golubic was the last player to take a set off the three-time champion in Doha — and Swiatek aims to secure a 13th straight two-set victory in Wednesday's third-round encounter.
However, the world No. 2 will be wary of her opponent, who has already taken out 15th seed Donna Vekic in the opening round and has typically pushed her in previous meetings, taking the 22-time WTA champion to three sets in three meetings last year and getting the better of the five-time Grand Slam champion at last year's Australian Open.
Having been taken to a decider in their last two match-ups in Miami and the Billie Jean King Cup, it will be fascinating to see if Swiatek's Doha history stands the three-time champion in good stead in the last 16.
© Imago
The 20-year-old Noskova has barely broken a sweat en route to another round of 16 match in Doha, having reached the same stage on her debut 12 months ago.
The young player's run ended against experienced countrywoman Karolina Pliskova in three tight sets, and the tyro returns to this stage, seeking to stun the three-time champion chasing a fourth consecutive title at the WTA 1000 event.
The Czech player's straight-set victories over Vekic and Yulia Putintseva in rounds one and two have seen her improve to 4-1 in Doha and 6-4 in 2025, with every success this season coming in two sets.
Defeating Swiatek in straights will be easier said than done, even if giving away few breakpoint opportunities on serve in both rounds, five overall in two matches, saving two of three in her tournament opener and one of two in the second round, and converting 50% of eight chances against Vekic and all five chances against Putintseva stand Noskova in good stead.
These stats underline the 20-year-old's threat before a sixth meeting with the highest-ranked seed left in Doha after Aryna Sabalenka's second-round exit.
Tournament so far
Iga Swiatek:
First round: vs. Bye
Second round: vs. Maria Sakkari 6-3 6-2
Linda Noskova:
First round: vs. Donna Vekic 6-2 6-4
Second round: vs. Yulia Putintseva 6-2 6-3
Head To Head
BJK Cup (2024) - Quarter-finals: Swiatek 7-6(4) 4-6 7-5
Miami (2024) - Round of 32: Swiatek 6-7(7) 6-4 6-4
Indian Wells (2024) - Round of 32: Swiatek 6-4 6-0
Australian Open (2024) - Third round: Noskova 3-6 6-3 6-4
Warsaw (2023) - Quarter-finals: Swiatek 6-1 6-4
Swiatek may lead her head-to-head with Noskova 4-1, but that advantage does not tell the whole story, with the Czech player stunning the 22-time WTA champion at last year's Aussie Open and forcing the world No. 2 to consecutive three-setters in their past two encounters.
Although Swiatek secured wins in Miami and at last year's Billie Jean King Cup quarter-final, both women played for two hours and 33 minutes in the former and two hours and 41 minutes in the latter, having played for two hours and 20 minutes Down Under in their second tour-level match-up; another marathon could be in the offing on Wednesday.
Noskova has a mixed 7-12 win-loss record against top-10 opponents, losing three of her recent encounters with the elite; however, the 20-year-old won her most recent match with one in Abu Dhabi, where she got the better of Paula Badosa in straight sets (6-4, 6-1).
Both women will tussle on a hard court for the sixth consecutive time in Wednesday's last-16 match.
We say: Swiatek to win in three sets
Having already seen Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Qinwen Zheng and Badosa eliminated in the previous round, Swiatek's eyes will light up at the prospect of another title in Doha.
Although Noskova is backed to take a set off the Polish superstar for the third consecutive match, the three-time champion should advance to another last-eight match at the Qatar Open.
