Iga Swiatek suffered her worst defeat in two years as Jelena Ostapenko breezed past the world number two in straight sets to reach the Qatar Open final.
Ostapenko needed just and hour and eight minutes to wrap up a 6-3 6-1 victory over the five-time Grand Slam champion in Doha.
The last time Swiatek was on the wrong end of such a one-sided match was a 6-2 6-2 loss to Elena Rybakina at Indian Wells in March 2023.
The 23-year-old Pole was on a 15-match winning streak at the Qatar Open and chasing a fourth successive title.
Ostapenko, ranked 37th in the world, has now won all five of her meetings with Swiatek.
“I feel like this court has a special energy,” said the Latvian, 27.
“I was pretty confident that I would beat her because we’ve played a lot of matches and I kind of know how to play against her.
“I’m really happy with the way I’m handling my emotions this week. I’m just so happy to be in the final.”
Ostapenko will play Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova or American Amanda Anisimova in Saturday’s final.
