© Getty Images Sport – Clive Brunskill
Naomi Osaka has been through to her first WTA quarterfinal since 2022 March, while Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina have also made the last eight in Doha.
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, was scheduled to play against world No. 37 Lesia Tsurenko on Wednesday in the Doha round-of-16. But Osaka and Tsurenko never took the court after the Ukrainian gave a walkover to the Japanes due to an elbow injury.
Following the Tsurenko walkover, Osaka made her first WTA quarterfinal since 2022 Miami, when she reached the final at the tournament before losing to Swiatek in the final.
23 months later, Osaka is set to play again in a WTA quarterfinal as the former world No. 1 will be taking on Karolina Pliskova in her next Doha match. When they meet in Doha, it will be their seventh meeting as Pliskova has a 4-2 head-to-head against Osaka. Earlier this year in Osaka’s first post-pregnancy tournament, Osaka was up by a set against Pliskova before the Czech stormed back to win 3-6 7-6 (4) 6-4.
In Brisbane, Osaka made a strong start against Pliskova before her level dropped and she lost in three sets. When she faces Pliskova in Doha again, there is no doubt that Osaka will be…
