Two-time Grand Slam champions Petra Kvitova and Garbine Muguruza are the last two women standing at the Qatar Total Open. The upcoming title match will be a repeat of the 2018 Doha final, when Kvitova beat Muguruza in three sets.
Fourth seed Petra Kvitova recorded a straight-set 6-4 6-4 victory over qualifier Jessica Pegula in Friday’s semifinals. The Czech lost her rhythm after taking the first set, but won four consecutive games in the second set to recover from a 2-4 deficit.
The world No.10 Kvitova is now through to her third Qatar Total Open final in the last four years. Moreover, the two-time Wimbledon champion’s last final was at this same venue last year, when she lost to Aryna Sabalenka.
The other Qatar Total Open singles semifinal was not played, as eighth seed Victoria Azarenka pulled out because of a back injury, handing Garbine Muguruza a walkover. The withdrawal is not a surprise at all, as Azarenka played through pain in her quarterfinal against Elina Svitolina.
Nicole Melichar of the United States and Demi Schuurs of the Netherlands clinched the women’s doubles title this Friday, beating Jelena Ostapenko and Monica Niculescu 6-2 2-6 10-8.
The women’s singles final between Kvitova and Muguruza starts on Saturday, 6 p.m. local time.
