DOHA, February 25, 2016

18-year-old Jelena Ostapenko continued his successful run at the Qatar Total Open in Doha on quarterfinals Thursday. The world number 88 from Latvia defeated Saisai Zheng, who knocked out the tournament’s top-seed Angelique Kerber in the second round, winning 6-4, 6-3. Ostapenko won 53% of the total points to prevail in one hour and 37 minutes.

“First I thought I was going to be playing qualies, but then I was second in and got into the main draw,” Ostapenko said. “Then win by win, I was playing better and better. I’m so happy I’m still here!”

Andrea Petkovic (photo: QTF)

She will meet Andrea Petkovic next, who upset fourth seed Garbine Murguruza 6-1, 5-7, 6-2. The world number 27 from Germany, who came into the match with a 2-0 lead in head to head records over the Spaniard, withstood six aces, hitting four of her own to seal victory in two hours and 21 minutes.

“It’s very special,” Petkovic said of her first Top 5 win in three years. “It was so tough; Garbiñe is such a talented and dangerous player who put me under pressure. I was a little lucky in the end, but I’m just happy to be through.”

Third seed Agnieszka Radwanska fought back against the tournament’s number nine Roberta Vinci, winning 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in one hour and 51 minutes.

“She’s a very tricky player with great hands, so you always expect tricky points from her,” Radwanska said during her on-court interview. “I was just trying to be better this time, so I hope you guys enjoyed it and I think it was a great match,” the Polish was happy to  take on eighth seed Carla Suarez Navarro next, who beat Elena Vesnina 6-3, 7-6.