Top seeds Dabrowski, doubles partner Routliffe eliminated from Qatar Open

Top seeds Gabriela Dabrowski of Ottawa and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand were emphatically eliminated from the women's doubles competition at the Qatar Open tennis tournament with a 6-2, 6-1 loss to Russians Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider in Doha.

The Russians needed just 56 minutes to post the win.

They saved both break points they faced while breaking Dabrowski and Routliffe four times on six chances.

In a dominant second set, Andreeva and Shnaider won 14-of-17 first-serve points, compared to 4-of-8 for their favoured opponents.

The rare early exit for Dabrowski and Routliffe, the reigning WTA Finals doubles champions, comes on the heels of a run to the semifinals at last month's Australian Open.

Later Wednesday, world No. 27 Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., was scheduled to face Amanda Anisimova of the United States in a third-round women's singles match at the WTA 1000 level tournament.

WATCH l Dabrowski, partner Routliffe lose Australian Open semifinal match:

Ottawa's Dabrowski, partner Routliffe fall in Australian Open women's doubles semis

Defending champion Iga Swiatek advanced to the quarterfinals of the Doha Open with a 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-4 win over Czech Linda Noskova.

The second-seeded Swiatek will next play Elena Rybakina, who beat Rebecca Sramkova 7-6 (1), 6-2.

Sixth-seeded Jessica Pegula also reached the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Daria Kasatkina.

The American will next face Ekaterina Alexandrova, who beat Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-2, for a spot in the last four. Alexandrova, who is ranked 26th, had defeated top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in three sets on Tuesday.

Italy's Jasmine Paolini, the No. 4 seed, was eliminated by Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-2. The Latvian will next play either Ons Jabeur or