Iga Swiatek made amends for her 2023 Wimbledon quarterfinal defeat by ousting Elina Svitolina to reach the Dubai quarterfinal, while Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina were made to work hard before securing a last-eight ticket in the United Arab Emirates.
In their first meeting since the 2023 Wimbledon quarterfinal, No. 1 seed Swiatek saw off Svitolina 6-1 6-4 to progress into her second Dubai quarterfinal. On the other side, No. 3 seed Gauff came back from a set down to beat former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova 2-6 6-4 6-3, while fourth-seeded Rybakina also needed three sets to beat world No. 53 Magdalena Frech 7-6 (5) 3-6 6-4.
Swiatek, who was beaten by Svitolina in her first Wimbledon quarterfinal eight months ago, got off to an outstanding to her Dubai quarterfinal as she broke Svitolina in the fourth and sixth games to routinely win the first set with just one game lost. In the second set, Swiatek twice blew a break but kept her focus and broke Svitolina again in the ninth before serving out for a two-set win in the following game.
Iga Swiatek© Getty Images Sport – Christopher Pike
Swiatek plays next against 2024 Australian Open finalist Zheng Qinwen, who defeated Anastasia Potapova.
Gauff claimed a comeback win over Pliskova
Gauff got off to a very slow start to the match against Pliskova as the Czech broke the American three times en route to winning the first set. After losing the first set, Gauff managed to bounce back in the second set and open a 5-2 lead but then failed to serve out for the second set in the ninth game. However, Gauff was able to recover after missing out on four break points in the ninth game as she earned and realized her fifth set point on Pliskova’s serve in the 10th game.
In the third set, Gauff saved three break points in the first game before earning the first break of the set in the eighth game for a 5-3 lead. Serving for the match in the ninth game, Gauff saved two break points before converting her second match point to complete a two-set win and set up a quarterfinal meeting against Anna Kalinskaya.
Coco Gauff© Getty Images Sport – Christopher Pike
Rybakina survives the Frech challenge
In the first set, Rybakina was twice on the verge of losing the opener but she managed to break back Frech in the 10th game – the game in which the Pole was serving for the set. Then in the first-set tie-break, Rybakina was 2-5 down before winning the next five games to win a tight opener.
In the second set, Frech opened a 5-2 lead – missed out on three set points in the eighth game on Rybakina’s serve – but closed out the set on her service in the ninth game to force a decider.
After winning the second set, Frech also went toe-to-toe with Rybakina for the majority of the third set – but that changed in the 10th game, when the Kazakh claimed the first break of the decider – the game in which Frech was serving to stay in the match.
Elena Rybakina© Getty Images Sport – Christopher Pike
On Thursday, Rybakina will be facing Jasmine Paolini for a place in the Dubai semifinal.
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