Pliskova knocked out by Tunisia's Jabeur, Barty gets walkover

Ons Jabeur beat Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 at the WTA event in Doha on Wednesday.

DOHA (AFP) - Tunisian Ons Jabeur dumped world number three Karolina Pliskova out of the WTA event in Doha on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals, while top-ranked Ashleigh Barty received a walkover.

Australian Open quarter-finalist Jabeur came through a tight match against Pliskova, winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to set up a last-eight tie against Petra Kvitova on Thursday.

Jabeur, who became the first Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final in Melbourne, was broken when leading 4-2 in the deciding set, but hit back immediately before claiming her first win over a top-10 player since 2018.

The 25-year-old managed to see out the win despite appearing to struggle with a hamstring injury in the closing games.

"I had a sharp pain on my hamstring, right hamstring, when I was going for the forehand at 4-2 my serve," Jabeur told wtatennis.com.

"I didn t really want to call the physio, so people would not think that I m doing it on purpose, and plus I didn t want to break the rhythm I was trying to maintain."

Earlier on Wednesday, two-time Wimbledon winner Kvitova had battled past former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.

"I mean Petra is Petra. She plays unbelievable and she s a tough player," added Jabeur.

"Hopefully, my hamstring will be better. I m going to do my best tonight to recover and honestly I think it s going to be a great match."

Czech left-hander Kvitova, 11th in the world rankings, has not lost to a player ranked outside the top 40 since last year s US Open, but said she struggled in windy conditions.

"There s no chance to have tactics in this wind," she said.

"The wind changes everything. I tried to stay there, to be patient, but sometimes it s a little difficult."

Barty had been expecting a tough last-16 encounter against in-form Kazakh Elena Rybakina, who has reached four WTA finals already this season.

But the world number 17 withdrew from the tournament through injury.

Australia s Barty will play Garbine Muguruza for a semi-final spot after the Australian Open runner-up saw off Ukrainian youngster Dayana Yastremska 6-2, 6-4.

Swiss fourth seed Belinda Bencic cruised past Yulia Putintseva 6-4, 6-3 and will face Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarters after the Russian veteran was also the beneficiary of a walkover as American teenager Amanda Anisimova pulled out of the event.

Elsewhere, Belarusian ninth seed Aryna Sabalenka thrashed Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-0 to set up a tie with China s Zheng Saisai, who knocked out seventh-seeded Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens.