Maria Sakkari came from a set down to book her place in the Qatar Open semi-finals after beating three-time champion Iga Swiatek in a thrilling contest on Thursday. 

Sakkari held her nerve in a final set that saw five breaks of serve to claim a 2-6 6-4 7-5 victory in two hours and 28 minutes in Doha. 

Top seed Swiatek looked like she would be cruising into the final four after comfortably taking the first set as she reeled off the final five games with the minimum of fuss. 

However, Sakkari dusted herself down and quickly raced into a 3-0 lead in the second set, though Swiatek roared back to level at 4-4 as the pair continued to trade blows.

But back-to-back games for Sakkari ensured the encounter would go the distance, and she made a strong start in the decider, breaking in the fourth game to go 3-1 up. 

There were three breaks of serve across the next five games, but with ball in hand, Sakkari sealed her progression after Swiatek returned a simple volley into the net. 

ALL GRIT, NO QUIT @mariasakkari defeats the three-time Doha champ!#QatarTotalEnergiesOpen pic.twitter.com/RBgxVimNyX

— wta (@WTA) February 12, 2026

Sakkari will face the winner of Karolina Muchova's clash with Anna Kalinskaya for a place in the final, and she was joined in the last four by Jelena Ostapenko. 

Ostapenko, who finished as the runner-up to Amanda Anisimova last year, got the better of Elisabetta Cocciaretto 7-5 6-4. 

Data Debrief: Sakkari's home from home

Sakkari is the first player to defeat Swiatek in a WTA-1000 match after having lost the opening set. The Pole had won the previous 109 such matches.

The Greek has now reached the semi-finals at this event on three occasions, which makes it her joint-best tournament for deep runs, alongside the three semi-final appearances she has managed at Indian Wells.