Qatar Open heats up towards final stretch

Qualifier Petra Cetkovska of Czech Republic produced a dream performance on Thursday against world number three Li Na of China to reach the quarter-finals at the $2.5m Qatar Open.

Feisty Cetkovska edged past top seed Li Na, 31, in three sets to go past the third round for the first time in her second appearance in Doha.

The 29-year-old Czech beat the Australian Open champion 7-6 (6-2), 3-6, 6-4 in 2 hours and 46 minutes.

In the quarter-finals - where the loser picks up $50,700 - Cetkovska will take on sixth seed Angelique Kerber of Germany. 

Kerber yesterday hammered Klara Zakapalova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-3 in 70 minutes.

Cetkovska was thrilled with her ‘amazing’ win.

"I just tried to play each ball on its merit,” the soft-spoken Czech said after beating Li Na, who was unbeaten in 2014 before yesterday’s clash. 

"I am so happy with this win,” she added.

"I don’t even know how I played so well here in Doha,” Cetkovska said.

Here are some photo's from the recent matches by Ray Toh:

Are you planning on catching any of the matches this weekend? | Source: The Peninsula