Jelena Ostapenko secured her place in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open by defeating Colombia’s Camila Osorio in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1. The match, held in Doha, was marked by a disputed call during the opening game, which Ostapenko openly questioned although she ultimately prevailed.
Incident Sparks Debate During Opening Game
Early in the match, Osorio executed a deft drop shot that brought the score to 40-15. Ostapenko, convinced the ball had bounced twice before Osorio’s shot, requested a video review from chair umpire Timo Jansen. After the review, Jansen upheld the call, confirming there was only one bounce.
Ladies and gentlemen, as you can see in the video, it’s confirmed there was only one bounce, 40-15,
Jansen stated.
Ostapenko responded by shaking her head and gesturing toward her racket frame, implying a possible mishit by Osorio. However, the video evidence supported the umpire’s decision. The Colombian player maintained a lighthearted exchange with Jansen during the changeover.
You knew that [it wasn’t a double bounce], didn’t you?
Osorio asked.
I know, yeah, Jansen replied.
Match Progression and Next Opponent
Following the dispute, Osorio broke Ostapenko’s serve to lead 2-0, but the Latvian quickly regained composure, winning 12 of the next 14 games to seal her victory. Ostapenko is now set to face Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the quarterfinals. Ranked 24th in the world, Ostapenko will be the favorite against Cocciaretto, who is placed 33 spots below her.
The two players have met once before on the WTA Tour, with Cocciaretto winning that encounter at the 2024 Birmingham tournament, 6-3, 6-3. Cocciaretto has also demonstrated strong form in Doha, notably defeating Coco Gauff in straight sets to reach this stage of the competition.
The scheduled quarterfinal clash between Ostapenko and Cocciaretto is expected to be a compelling matchup.
Current State of the Qatar Open and Player Withdrawals
The 2026 Qatar Open has experienced several setbacks before and during the tournament. A number of high-profile players, including Grand Slam champions Aryna Sabalenka, Madison Keys, Naomi Osaka, and Marketa Vondrousova, withdrew prior to the event. Their spots have been filled by other competitors such as Emiliana Arango, Daria Kasatkina, Xinyu Wang, and Maria Sakkari.
Additionally, many seeded players exited early; 10 out of the top 16 seeds failed to progress to the third round, opening the draw significantly.
Ostapenko’s Strong Record and Prospects in Doha
Despite the unpredictable nature of the tournament, Jelena Ostapenko remains unfazed. She currently leads Iga Swiatek 6-0 in their head-to-head matchups and holds two wins against Elena Rybakina, although trailing overall to the Kazakh player. Ostapenko’s history in Doha is notable, as she holds the most match wins at the Qatar Open (23) and has been a finalist twice, in 2016 and 2025.
She aims to capture her first Qatar Open title this year, though she remains focused on her upcoming quarterfinal against Cocciaretto, aiming to secure a spot in the semifinals.
The quarterfinal match is scheduled for Thursday, February 12, with both players looking to capitalize on their strong form in Doha.
