New Delhi: Top seed Elena Rybakina battled past qualifier Katie Volynets to move to the quarter-finals in her Abu Dhabi Open title defence, winning 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in 2 hours and 27 minutes.
Bidding to successfully defend a title for the first time in her career, Rybakina received a first-round bye after taking to the court for the first time since getting beaten in the last eight stage of the Australian Open to eventual champion Madison Keys.
Former World No.2 Ons Jabeur also entered the quarters with a win over 17-year-old qualifier Wakana Sonobe 6-3, 6-3.
“It was definitely a great match for me. Always tough playing young players, lefty ones, it’s always tricky. I’m glad that I pulled (out) the win in two sets,” Jabeur said after her win in 73 minutes.
Jabeur will face Rybakina, against whom she lead 3-2 in head-to-head count, winning their most recent encounter in the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2023.
“(This season) I was really trying to focus on myself, trying to be healthier on the court. But at the same time not really care about the results, and try to just enjoy my time on the court,” she said.
“I do put a lot of pressure on myself, also that I was trying to get rid of. So I’m not (doing) anything specific, just enjoying my time to play and obviously always be hungry to win.”
Badosa stunned
Second seed Paula Badosa exited the tournament with a 6-4, 6-1 defeat to Linda Noskova in 67 minutes, facing nine break points her first meeting between them.
It was the 39th-ranked Noskova’s seventh career win against a top 10 opponent and first of the current season.
Third seed Daria Kasatkina also faced a shock defeat to Ashlyn Krueger, going down 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 in 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Elena Rybakina had received a first-round bye and took to the court for the first time since getting beaten in the last eight stage of the Australian Open Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
