The journey of the WTA Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships was filled with emotions and surprises, with world number one, Elena Rybakina, exiting unexpectedly. The Kazakh player, who had high hopes for this tournament, was forced to retire from her match against Croatian Antonia Ruzic while trailing 7-5, 4-6, 0-1. Rybakina, who struggled to find her best form on court, began the match with difficulties, losing her serve in the first game and facing a tough start as she fell behind 2-0. Although she managed to level the match at 5-5 and take the first set, her performance was marked by interruptions, and after an early break in the third set, she decided to take a medical timeout. During this break, it became clear that she was not in the best physical condition, having revealed that she had a restless night’s sleep. Consequently, Rybakina made the difficult decision to withdraw, allowing Ruzic to advance to the quarter-finals for the first time in her career in WTA 1000 competitions.
“It was a crazy story that I came in as a lucky loser because I lost in the first round of qualifying,” Ruzic explained to the press. “I was here because of doubles and then they told me to sign up because maybe you could get in. Sometimes, you have to seize second chances. Many players have had incredible runs as lucky losers because you have nothing to lose. I’m happy with how I played today.”
Meanwhile, American Coco Gauff faced a true test of endurance, overcoming Elise Mertens in a thrilling match that nearly saw her exit the tournament. The young star, a two-time Grand Slam champion, made an impressive comeback, winning 2-6, 7-6(9), 6-3 after saving three match points. Gauff got off to a disastrous start, but her determination prevailed, forcing a tiebreak and ultimately sealing the victory. “The whole match felt like it wasn’t going my way,” Gauff admitted. “It wasn’t the best, but I tried to stay strong and fought for every point. I’m happy I managed to get the result today.”
Jessica Pegula maintained her consistency and advanced easily by defeating Iva Jovic 6-4, 6-2. The first set was a service battle, but Pegula, more experienced, seized her opportunity to break Jovic’s serve and never looked back. On the other hand, Amanda Anisimova secured her place in the quarter-finals with a convincing victory over Janice Tjen, winning 6-1, 6-3, showcasing a dominant start that left Tjen without an answer.
Current champion Mirra Andreeva also advanced, but not without difficulties. After defeating Jaqueline Cristian 7-5, 6-3, Andreeva admitted she was not satisfied with her performance, committing 31 unforced errors in an erratic match. “I’m happy to come off the court as a winner. It was really tough to play here today,” said the young tennis player.
In what has been described as the “duel of the mothers,” Elina Svitolina and Belinda Bencic made history by becoming the first mothers to be in the top 10 at the same time. Svitolina emerged victorious, defeating Bencic 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, showcasing an impressive comeback after losing the first set. The two-time tournament champion moves on to face Ruzic.
Finally, the young Alexandra Eala confirmed her second appearance in the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 by defeating Sorana Cirstea 7-5, 6-4, setting up an exciting clash against Gauff. Eala, always supported by her fans, capitalized on critical moments to secure the win.
With so many twists and surprises, the tournament in Dubai continues to be an exciting platform for the stars of world tennis, promising more action in the coming days.
Discover more from Apito Final
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
