Świątek Reflects on Tough Match: “A Lesson for Coming Days”
In the Round of 16 at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open 2026, Iga Świątek faced Daria Kasatkina in a challenging match. After losing the first set 5-7, Świątek rallied to win the next two sets decisively at 6-1, 6-1.
Świątek Reflects on Tough Match
Post-match, Świątek commented on her performance, stating, “It was not an easy match. Even in the second and third sets, I had to work hard to win exchanges against Daria.” She acknowledged that Kasatkina exploited the slower surface effectively, playing more aggressively than in her previous matches.
Statistics and Rankings
- Match score: 5-7, 6-1, 6-1
- Świątek’s career record against Kasatkina: 7-1
- Current WTA ranking of Iga Świątek: World No. 2
Reflecting on the match conditions, Świątek felt she could have performed better in the first set due to the cooler temperatures and wind. “This is definitely a lesson for the coming days,” she said, indicating her commitment to improvement.
Upcoming Challenge Against Sakkari
Świątek is set to face Maria Sakkari in the quarterfinals, a match that promises to be competitive. Historical data shows an interesting head-to-head record between the two.
- 2021: Sakkari won three matches against Świątek.
- 2025: Świątek defeated Sakkari in Doha 6-3, 6-2.
Sakkari acknowledges Świątek’s formidable skills, highlighting her consistency and aggressive gameplay. “Iga is very solid but aggressive. She distributes the ball well and rarely makes simple errors,” Sakkari stated.
The match between Świątek and Sakkari is scheduled as the second match on the center court at 1:00 PM local time. The winner will advance to face either Karolina Muchova or Anna Kalinska in the semifinals of the WTA 1000 event in Doha.
