Sakkari Reaches Doha Semifinal Despite Tough Loss

Former top-3 player Maria Sakkari makes strong run at Qatar Open before falling to eventual champion Karolina Muchova.

Feb. 16, 2026 at 4:47pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Maria Sakkari, a former top-3 player who has struggled with her ranking in recent years, made an unexpected run to the semifinals of the 2026 Qatar Open. Despite a tough loss to eventual champion Karolina Muchova, Sakkari's performance throughout the tournament, including an upset win over top seed Iga Swiatek, is seen as a positive step in her return to form.

Why it matters

Sakkari's strong showing in Doha is an encouraging sign for the Greek player, who has been trying to regain the form that saw her reach a career-high ranking of No. 3 in 2021. Her deep run in the tournament, which included several impressive victories, suggests she may be rediscovering her best tennis after a period of struggle.

The details

Sakkari dominated her first-round match against wildcard Zeynep Sonmez, 6-1 6-3, and continued her strong play by upsetting sixth seed Jasmine Paolini, 6-4 6-2, and qualifier Varvara Gracheva, 7-6 6-0. In the quarterfinals, Sakkari faced top seed Iga Swiatek, a player she had not beaten since 2021. After losing the first set 6-2, Sakkari fought back to win the second set and force a third, ultimately achieving the upset victory. However, Sakkari's run came to an end in the semifinals with a loss to eventual champion Karolina Muchova.

  • Sakkari's last great 1000-level run was at Indian Wells in 2024, nearly two years ago.
  • The 2026 Qatar Open took place in February 2026.

The players

Maria Sakkari

A former top-3 player who has struggled to maintain her ranking in recent years, but made an unexpected run to the semifinals of the 2026 Qatar Open.

Iga Swiatek

The top seed in the 2026 Qatar Open, a player Sakkari had not beaten since 2021.

Karolina Muchova

The eventual champion of the 2026 Qatar Open, who defeated Sakkari in the semifinals.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This week was a return to form, and that's what she should see it as.”

— Amanda Bergman, Author

The takeaway

Sakkari's strong performance at the 2026 Qatar Open, including her upset victory over top seed Iga Swiatek, is a positive sign that the former top-3 player may be regaining the form that made her one of the best players in the world. While her run ultimately came to an end in the semifinals, Sakkari can take encouragement from this tournament as she continues to work towards a return to the upper echelons of women's tennis.