Tennis Upset: Rublev, Top Seed, Stunned in Doha Quarterfinals

In a surprising turn of events at the Qatar Open ATP 250 tournament in Doha on Thursday (February 22), the top seeds faced defeat, with the highest-ranked player, Andrey Rublev, exiting the competition. Rublev, the world’s fifth-ranked player from Russia, lost to Czech Republic’s Jakub Mensik, who is currently ranked 116th, with a score of 6-4, 7-6(6). Additionally, the tournament saw the third seed, Ugo Humbert of France, being bested by his compatriot, the wildcard entrant Gael Monfils, with a scoreline of 6-2, 6-4. Furthermore, Kazakhstan’s fourth seed, Alexander Bublik, was defeated by Australia’s Alexei Popyrin, also with a score of 6-4, 6-4.

Karen Khachanov from Russia was the sole seeded player to advance to the semi-finals, benefiting from the retirement due to injury of Finland’s Emiil Ruusuvuori. In the semi-finals, Khachanov is set to play against Popyrin, while Monfils will compete against Mensik.

Meanwhile, in Dubai, world number one Iga Swiatek and U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff progressed to the third round of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Wednesday (February 21).

Swiatek overcame Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, a two-time champion, with scores of 6-1, 6-4 at the WTA 1000 event. Coming off a win at the previous WTA 1000 event in Doha, Swiatek is poised to face Zheng Qinwen of China, who was a finalist at the Australian Open, in the quarter-finals.

Gauff, the third seed, secured her spot in the next round by defeating Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova with scores of 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. She is scheduled to play against Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya.

The quarter-finals will also feature Doha finalist Elena Rybakina against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, who made a notable upset against the Greek eighth seed Maria Sakkari with scores of 6-4, 6-2. Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova will face off against Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in another quarter-final match.