Naomi Osaka’s quest for victory at the Qatar Open came to an end in a quarterfinal defeat to former world number one Karolina Pliskova, who emerged victorious in straight sets on Thursday.

The four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka, currently rebuilding her career following a maternity leave, suffered a 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/5) loss to Pliskova in a tightly contested match.

This marked Osaka’s second loss to Pliskova this year, having previously been defeated in three sets during her comeback tournament in Brisbane last month.

Pliskova, ranked at 59, continued her impressive form with this victory, marking her ninth win in the last 10 days. Her recent success includes clinching the Transylvania Open title just days before her triumph over Osaka.

The Czech player’s relentless performance secured her spot in the semifinals, where she will face off against world number one Iga Swiatek for a chance to advance to Saturday’s final.

Meanwhile, defending champion Swiatek demonstrated her prowess on the court with a dominant quarterfinal performance against Victoria Azarenka. Swiatek secured a commanding 6-4, 6-0 victory in just 74 minutes, showcasing her determination to claim a third consecutive Qatar title.