Iga Swiatek needed a comeback in three sets to advance on Wednesday at the WTA Doha event, with the former No. 1 setting up a quarter-final with fellow Grand Slam winner Elena Rybakina.
Swiatek is the player to beat in the Gulf after first-match exits from top seed Aryna Sabalenka and world No. 3 Coco Gauff.
Swiatek needed two and a half hours to finally overpower 20-year-old Czech Linda Noskova 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-4 result.
Rybakina had a much easier time of it with her 7-6 (1), 6-2 defeat of Slovak Rebecca Sramkova.
Swiatek has been dominant in Doha, winning the last three editions with 14 match victories on the trot and 14 straight here; she has won 15 of 16 matches at the event.
