Elena Rybakina defeats Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to set up Iga Swiatek final clash in Qatar

Elena Rybakina advanced to the Qatar Open final after defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2 6-4 in the semi-finals on Friday, where she will face world number one Iga Swiatek.

Defending champion Swiatek will be well rested as she seeks to win the tournament for the third year in a row, having received a walkover in her semi-final after Karolina Pliskova withdrew due to a lower back injury.

Rybakina, who has already won in Brisbane and Abu Dhabi this year, appeared to be coasting to victory until the unseeded Russian put in a brave finish, and will now face Swiatek in a final for the first time.

After an even start, Rybakina served to love to make it 2-2 before breaking the Russian's serve twice in the first set.

Rybakina broke serve early in the second set, and despite Pavlyuchenkova having six break points, Rybakina rallied to hold serve and make it 3-1 before breaking again.

Rybakina served for the match at 5-2, but Pavlyuchenkova wasn't done yet. She broke serve for the first time to push her opponent all the way, but Rybakina held her nerve and her serve to prevent a comeback.

Swiatek and Rybakina have met four times before, with Rybakina winning the last three, including last year's quarterfinal in Rome, when the Pole retired due to injury with the match tied at one set each and 2-2 in the third.

Swiatek, the top seed, when facing Rybakina in the final on Saturday, will be looking to become the first player to win a WTA event three times in a row since Serena Williams won the Miami title from 2013 to 2015.

SportsLigue