Iga Swiatek survives Linda Noskova scare to set up Elena Rybakina quarter-final in Qatar

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Iga Swiatek kept her quest for a fourth straight Qatar Open title on track, after coming from behind to beat Linda Noskova.

The world number two came through an epic clash 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 6-4 in just over two-and-a-half hours, setting up a quarter-final clash with Elena Rybakina.

Swiatek had won each of her 13 previous matches in Doha, but found herself behind after Noskova won seven out of eight points in the first-set tiebreak.

Following three successive breaks of serve in the second set, the four-time French Open champion crucially held for 5-3, before doing so again to level.

Swiatek broke in the opening game of the deciding set, though Noskova hit back in the fourth to level at 2-2.

The Pole appeared in trouble at 4-3 and 30-0 down on serve, but reeled off the next six points – breaking the Czech to love along the way – before holding for victory.

Data Debrief: Poles apart as Swiatek matches Radwanska

Swiatek became the second player in Qatar Open history to reach four consecutive quarter-finals after compatriot Agnieszka Radwanska.

It will be her 19th quarter-final from 32 WTA-1000 main draws (59.4%), with only Serena Williams (61.2%) reaching them at a higher rate since 2009.

Noskova also played her part in this contest, though. The players registered the most combined winners (75) in any match at this year’s tournament.