Azarenka, Muguruza Set Qatar Total Open Semifinal Showdown

Doha, March 04 (QNA) - Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka reached her 60th career semifinal with a straight-set victory over top seed Elina Svitolina at the Qatar Total Open. Garbine Muguruza will face her in the final four after her win over Maria Sakkari. Azarenka maintained her undefeated record against Elina Svitolina, as the two-time Doha champion ousted this week's top seed 6-2, 6-4 to reach the semifinals. Muguruza, the 2018 Doha runner-up, defeated Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-1 in Thursday's nightcap to complete the semifinal lineup and queue up a showdown with Azarenka. No.8 seed Azarenka improved to 4-0 against Svitolina with her 85-minute victory, which propels her into the 60th WTA semifinal of her career. In her first match against a Top 20 opponent this season, Azarenka pushed past persistent pain and medical treatment from the trainer to fire 25 winners, more than double the amount from Svitolina. Muguruza avenged a loss to Sakkari in their only previous meeting, which came earlier this season in Abu Dhabi. There, Maria Sakkari was the victor in straight sets, but under the lights in Doha, Muguruza required just over an hour to reach the semifinals for the second time in her six successive showings at the event. (QNA)