Amanda Anisimova's reward for making her second WTA 1000 semi-final pits the American against in-form Ekaterina Alexandrova in Friday's Qatar Open last-four contest.
Alexandrova took out her second top-10 opponent this week to secure a three-set victory over Jessica Pegula in the quarters and seeks a ninth straight success to make Saturday's title match against Iga Swiatek or Jelena Ostapenko.
Match preview
Is there anyone in finer form than Alexandrova on the WTA Tour at the moment? The Russian player entered the first 1000 event of 2025 after claiming the WTA 500 crown in Linz and has continued that outstanding form in Doha.
The 30-year-old was 4-0 before her tournament opener in Qatar and is now 8-0 after reeling off four more victories at the event, avenging her Australian Open exit at the hands of Emma Raducanu in round one, stunning Aryna Sabalenka in round two, dispatching Elise Mertens in the third round and Pegula in the quarter-final.
Comeback wins over top-10 opponents in Sabalenka and Pegula have been the highlight of Alexandrova's run en route to a third WTA 1000 semi-final and a first in Doha, having previously never made it past the third round.
Thursday's victory equalled the Russian's longest winning streak, and the five-time tour champion aims to set a personal best by getting the better of Anisimova in their third meeting on the women's tour.
Alexandrova refocusing so quickly after claiming the first WTA 500 crown of her career has been pivotal to a deep run in Qatar, and the red-hot 30-year-old will back herself to secure a ninth straight victory at Anisimova's expense.
The United States player may have dropped a set for the first time in Doha after blowing a 4-1 advantage in the opener against Marta Kostyuk, but she refocused to secure a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 success over the Ukrainian.
However, the 23-year-old was broken six times in the quarter-final contest that ebbed and flowed before the American sealed a turnaround.
While her ball-striking poses a danger to any player on the tour, Anisimova's tendency to oscillate between impeccable and error-strewn could undermine her prospects against an opponent that theoretically should test her rally tolerance.
Nevertheless, the young player has advanced to her second WTA 1000 semi-final in the space of six months, taking out four top-30 players and one top-10 player — Paula Badosa — en route to Friday's last-four contest with Alexandrova.
It will be fascinating to see which version of Anisimova surfaces on Friday: the clean ball striker or the irksome error-prone player whose dips may not survive an in-form opponent.
Tournament so far
Ekaterina Alexandrova:
First round: vs. Emma Raducanu 6-3 7-5
Second round: vs. Aryna Sabalenka 3-6 6-3 7-6
Third round: vs. Elise Mertens 6-4 6-2
Quarter-final: vs. Jessica Pegula 4-6 6-1 6-1
Amanda Anisimova:
First round: vs. Victoria Azarenka 6-3 7-5
Second round: vs. Paula Badosa 6-4 6-3
Third round: vs. Leylah Fernandez 6-3 6-0
Quarter-final: vs. Marta Kostyuk 4-6 7-5 6-4
Head To Head
Madrid (2022) - Quarter-final: Alexandrova 6-4 6-3
Doha (2020) - First round: Anisimova 6-3 7-6(4)
Both women have a win apiece in their head-to-head, although Anisimova claimed success in their only hard-court encounter at this event in 2020.
While Alexandrova was victorious on the clay courts of Madrid two years later, they meet again in Doha five years after the American player's straight-set success at the event.
The Russian's eight-match winning streak means the 30-year-old has improved to 9-3 in 2025 ahead of Friday's semi-final, while Anisimova enters the last four with a 7-2 win-loss record this season.
We say: Alexandrova to win in three sets
Anisimova goes into Friday's semi-final match the fresher of both players, having dropped one set en route to her maiden last-four match in Doha.
While questions could be raised about Alexandrova's physical level and possibly overcoming the mental fatigue of a successful run in Linz preceding her deepest run in Doha, we are backing the steadier Russian to make the most of her momentum and superior rally tolerance to eliminate the error-prone Anisimova.
body check tags ::
Previews by email
