Swiatek, Rybakina shown exit

World No.2 Iga Swiatek and Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina both crashed out of the Qatar Open on Thursday losing their quarterfinals to Maria Sakkari and Victoria Mboko respectively.

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Victoria Mboko, right, shakes hands with Elena Rybakina after winning her quarter-final match.

(REUTERS)

Top seed Swiatek fell short against a revitalised Sakkari who rolled back the years as she clawed her way to a nervy 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory while 10th seed Mboko outmuscled Rybakina 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.

"It’s been a while since I had a big win like today," said Sakkari, who reached No.3 in the rankings in 2022 but has slipped to 52nd.

"When you drop in the rankings and you're not playing good tennis you start doubting yourself and you think you are never going to beat those players again.

"So it's a huge process you have to go through in your head that you can do it."

The 30-year-old Greek won her first three career meetings with the young Swiatek but the last of those victories came in 2021.