Australian Open queen Aryna Sabalenka noticed her unimaginable 13-0 undefeated begin to the season come to an abrupt finish as she squandered a commanding 6-0, 3-1 lead in a tense Dubai quarter-final defeat to Barbora Krejcikova Thursday.
Sabalenka had not misplaced a match in 2023 coming into the conflict, successful two titles in Australia in January, together with a maiden Grand Slam trophy.
But that streak was snapped as Krejcikova scooped a 0-6, 7-6(7/2), 6-1 victory to arrange a semi-final conflict with American No.3 seed Jessica Pegula.
The 24-year-old Belarusian will now fly house to Miami earlier than heading to Indian Wells, the place she hopes to recapture her title-winning kind.
“Probably there will be less attention (now that the streak is over). It doesn’t matter, I lost it,” Sabalenka mentioned after her defeat.
“Barbora deserved it, she played great tennis and I will just keep working and keep getting better; make sure that Indian Wells will be a better result.”
Many had been predicting a Dubai remaining between the world’s high two, Iga Swiatek and Sabalenka, who has overtly declared her ambition to dethrone the top-ranked Pole.
“I really would like to see that happening (playing finals against Swiatek) but first of all I have to work hard and I have to focus on myself,” mentioned Sabalenka.
“You cannot predict anything in tennis, especially women’s tennis, but I really want to see that I’ll work really hard to make sure that this is going to happen.”
Krejcikova – a runner-up in Dubai in 2021 – misplaced the primary seven video games of the competition and wanted 44 minutes earlier than she lastly obtained on the board, holding serve for 1-1 within the second set.
The 2021 French Open champion fell behind 1-3 however clawed her manner again, forcing a decider.
Krejcikova stored up the momentum as she broke Sabalenka twice for a 5-1 benefit and he or she knocked out the world quantity two in beneath two hours.
It was the Czech’s first win over Sabalenka in three conferences and it earned her a showdown with Pegula, who obtained a walkover into the ultimate 4 after her opponent Karolina Muchova withdrew from the event with an stomach damage.
“I was just fighting for every ball. I’m never going to leave a fight in any match that I’m playing, any score that is there. Definitely the Czech fans, they really helped,” mentioned Krejcikova.
No stress on Gauff
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff mentioned she’s going to method her semi-final in opposition to Swiatek with “no pressure” regardless of her 0-5 shedding document in opposition to the world primary.
Gauff has by no means taken a set off of Swiatek in any of their earlier 5 conferences – together with a defeat in final 12 months’s French Open remaining – however the 18-year-old is relishing the chance to face her nemesis as soon as once more on Friday.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek obtained a walkover into the Dubai semi-finals due to the withdrawal of Karolina Pliskova, who’s affected by a viral sickness.
Gauff secured passage to the second WTA 1000 semi-final of her profession with a composed 6-2, 7-5 victory over fellow American Madison Keys, and can be attempting to achieve the championship match at this degree for the primary time.
“She’s playing at the top of her game. Well, I don’t know, because last year we said the same thing. She’s playing really well,” mentioned Gauff of Swiatek, who has dropped a mere whole of eight video games in her final 5 matches.
“It’s going to be a challenge. But, to be honest, I think it’s a good match-up just to see where I can maybe improve on. There’s no pressure for me.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com
