(Video) Maria Sakkari Argues with Umpire After Double-Bounce Controversy During Iga Swiatek Qatar Open Match

Maria Sakkari finally ended her four-match losing streak against World No.2 Iga Swiatek.

(Video) Maria Sakkari Argues with Umpire After Double-Bounce Controversy During Iga Swiatek Qatar Open Match

Ball had bounced twice before Iga Swiatek hit it toward Maria Sakkari (Image via iga archive, Pavvy G, Tennis.com)

In Short
  • Maria Sakkari defeated Iga Swiatek 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 in the Qatar Open quarterfinals.
  • The match featured a controversial double-bounce incident that drew criticism towards Swiatek.
  • Sakkari's victory improved her head-to-head record against Swiatek to 4-4 and ended her four-match losing streak.

The Qatar Open quarterfinal match between Iga Swiatek and Maria Sakkari, held on Thursday (February 12), ended in the latter’s favor. Sakkari came from a set down to clinch a 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory over the three-time Doha champion.

With this win, the Greek ace became the first player to defeat Swiatek from a set down in WTA 1000 events. The match also saw a controversial moment, due to which Swiatek has been facing the heat of the tennis fans.

Sakkari served for the match at 5-3, 40-30, and made Swiatek sprint toward the net. Swiatek hit the volley, and Sakkari, who was also standing close to the net, returned it. But right after sending the ball across the court, without paying heed to Swiatek’s shot, Sakkari raised her arms and turned toward the chair umpire for a possible double bounce.

Sakkari took the video review, and the umpire then had to overturn the decision. Fans are heavily criticizing the former World No.1, claiming she knew the ball had bounced twice, but instead of admitting it, she kept mum and walked away.

Here’s the video of the incident:

I didn’t know if I, I mean, from physics, how the ball went. It was either from the floor, or I framed it. So, I wasn’t sure, honestly.

Iga Swiatek addressed the controversy at the press conference

The win helped Sakkari improve her head-to-head record over the World No.2 to 4-4. Prior to this meeting, they faced each other in the round of 32 of last year’s Doha event, which Swiatek won in straight sets. The win also helped Sakkari snap her four-match losing streak.

Maria Sakkari on the double-bounce controversy during the Iga Swiatek match

The double-bounce controversy happened also during her match against Emma Navarro in the 2025 Australian Open. Iga Swiatek denied that the ball had bounced twice before she hit it. At the press conference after her win, Maria Sakkari was asked whether she could tell when a ball had bounced twice.

Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek (Image via X/United Cup)

It’s great that we have it, because imagine if we didn’t have it today. I feel like it’s, you know, it’s very tough also for the umpire to see because you don’t know how they put the racket. And they’re not, you know, robots; they’re human beings, and they can lose the balance with their vision. It’s the first time I’ve used it, and I’m happy that it exists.

Prior to defeating Swiatek, Sakkari earned another top-10 victory in the tournament. She eliminated two-time Grand Slam singles finalist Jasmine Paolini in the second round.

I feel like you do. Sometimes, maybe you’re confused. I’m not saying that she knew or anything, of course, but sometimes I feel like you know. But you can also, you know, be a little bit, ‘I’m not so sure, I’m unsure about how the bounce was’.

Maria Sakkari added

Sakkari, who has made the semifinal of a WTA 1000 tournament for the first time since the 2024 Indian Wells, will next be locking horns with Karolina Muchova, who knocked out Anna Kalinskaya in her quarterfinal match. Muchova holds a 4-1 head-to-head lead over the World No.52.

Sakkari is chasing her second WTA 1000 title following her win at the 2023 Guadalajara Open. She has also made three more finals, last time reaching the title clash at the 2024 Indian Wells, which she lost to Swiatek.

The 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medalist, who completed a three-peat of the Doha title from 2022 to 2024, lost to reigning Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals last year. Before the first WTA 1000 of the season, Swiatek played the Australian Open, where Rybakina knocked her out in the quarterfinals. The only tournament Swiatek has won this year was the team event, the United Cup, with Poland.

Also read: Boris Becker Slammed for Recently Criticizing Emma Raducanu: “A Mean-Spirited Opinion”