By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, February 9, 2026Photo credit score: Bradley Kanaris/GETTY
Karolina Pliskova has been a career-long nemesis for Amanda Anisimova.
In a conflict of former Doha champions, Pliskova ended Anisimova’s Qatar Whole Energies Open reign as we speak.
Former world No. 1 Pliskova led 5-7, 7-6(3), 4-1 when Anisimova retired from an obvious sickness.
It was Pliskova’s sixth win over Anisimova in seven profession conferences.
World No. 418 Pliskova posted her first High 10-win since she defeated No.10 Ons Jabeur on the grass of Nottingham in 2024.
Ankle surgical procedure compelled Pliskova to overlook almost the complete 2025 season making a rankings plummet.
This yr, Pliskova reached the Australian Open third spherical bowing to defending champion Madison Keys.
The 2017 Doha champion Pliskova was down 5-7, 0-3 as we speak when she started discovering the traces together with her forehand.
Firing her favored forehand, Pliskova started imposing her benefit on that stroke.
The 2-time main finalist Pliskova broke again for 3-all then finally held at 15 to power the second-set tiebreaker.
Even at 2-all, Anisimova’s forehand misfired twice in a row earlier than Pliskova cranked a forehand drive down the road to earn a handful of set factors at 6-2.
On her second set level, Pliskova pounded down a smash.
Wanting winded at instances after longer exchanges, Anisimova took a medical timeout after Pliskova held for a 2-1 third-set lead.
The US Open finalist had her blood strain checked after which took additional remedy whereas mendacity down on courtroom.
When play resumed, Pliskova banged a backhand down the road breaking for 3-1.
The Pliskova forehand down the road was the most important shot on the courtroom as we speak.
Rapping a forehand down the road proper off the sideline, Pliskova held for 4-1.
After that shot, Anisimova walked to internet to retire after two hours, 22 minutes. Pliskova will play a fellow Czech, both 14th-seeded Karolina Muchova or 18-year-old Tereza Valentova subsequent.
Anisimova, who will lose 1,000 rating factors and drops to No. 6 within the WTA Reside Rankings, was the second distinguished participant to retire after having her blood checked.
Transylvania Open finalist Emma Raducanu referred to as a medical timeout to have her blood strain checked. A number of factors later, Raducanu retired to Camila Osorio, 2-6, 6-4, 2-0. Osorio will play Czech Katerina Siniakova subsequent.
Siniakova toppled Eleventh-seeded Clara Tauson 6-4, 6-1.
