Anett Kontaveit triumphs in Baltic battle, extends WTA win streak to nine

Anett Kontaveit is into a first WTA 1000 final for over three years of her career after downing Jelena Ostapenko in the semi-finals of the Qatar Open.

Kontaveit and Ostapenko went into the showdown on eight and nine consecutive match wins respectively, leaving one of those impressive runs to fall come the result of this match.

And it was the Estonian who conquered the Latvian as Kontaveit ousted Ostapenko 6-1, 6-4 to take the first final slot.

It means the world number seven has registered back-to-back semi-final victories over Ostapenko, overcoming the 24-year-old in the last four of the WTA 500 St Petersburg Ladies Trophy

“I’m so happy to be in the final,” Kontaveit said in her post-match interview.

“I’m very happy with the way I was fighting and competing out here.

“Every point I’m trying to compete as hard as I can, no matter what the score.

“I’m glad it worked out this time.”

Kontaveit has now reached seven finals at her last 12 events, claiming the title in five of those championship matches.

However, none of those have been at WTA 1000 level, Kontaveit’s only appearance in the final of such an event coming at the 2018 Wuhan Open where she lost to then world number 20 Aryna Sabalenka.

The Estonian will take on either Maria Sakkari or Iga Swiatek in the final, the latter being the only semi-finalist in Qatar to have won a title at WTA 1000 level before.

Moreover, Kontaveit is already guaranteed to secure a new career-high of fifth in the world come next week, but could end up as high as fourth should she win the title.

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