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Australian tennis star Ashleigh Barty has overcome Garbine Muguruza in three sets to reach the semi-finals of the Qatar Open.

Top seed Ashleigh Barty has defeated Garbine Muguruza in three sets to reach the semi-finals of the Qatar Open.

Barty beat Australian Open finalist Muguruza 6-1 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 to set up a meeting with Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova in the last four in Doha.

Though the Australian had beaten the Spaniard twice before, it was a tight contest before the world No.1 broke away in the third set.

Barty, 23, claimed the first set in just 25 minutes, winning all 11 of her first serve points.

Muguruza broke in the second set to lead 4-2, before Barty broke back immediately to force a tiebreak.

The Spaniard won it 7-4 to send the contest to a third set.

Barty broke the world No.16's serve three times in the final set to storm to a 6-2 victory.

"She (Muguruza) was able to take a certain position in the court in the second set there, and she did a really good job of that, but (I'm) happy to get through in the end," Barty said.

"I've seen plenty of Aussie flags around which has been fantastic as well. I recognise the Aussie voices. I love it. I love the Aussie accent. It's a lot of fun playing out here."

The Australian's semi-final opponent Kvitova, who defeated Muguruza in the 2018 final, beat Ons Jabeur 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-4) in their last eight contest.

In January, Barty withstood a fierce challenge from Kvitova to become the first Australian to make the Open semi-finals since Wendy Turnbull in 1984.

"I'm really looking forward to it, I love testing myself against Petra. We have fantastic battles every single time, so it will be no different tomorrow I'm sure."

Barty, playing in her first tournament since the Australian Open, had advanced to the quarter-finals via a walkover after her opponent Elena Rybakina withdrew due to a leg injury.