Iga Swiatek is edging nearer to a uncommon Doha-Dubai double following a convincing 6-3, 6-2 victory over Chinese sixth seed Zheng Qinwen within the quarterfinals within the UAE on Thursday.
The world No. 1, who not too long ago gained the trophy in Doha for the third consecutive time, has now prolonged her unbeaten streak to seven matches.
She goals to develop into the primary girl since 2007, and solely the third general, to win each Gulf tournaments in the identical season.
This victory marks the sixth assembly between Swiatek and Zheng in simply 20 months, with Swiatek sustaining an ideal 6-0 document in opposition to her opponent.
“I’m happy that I played well, stuck to my tactics and was pretty solid. For sure, I feel better and better every day here,” mentioned Swiatek, who was a finalist in Dubai 12 months in the past.
The Polish prime seed will subsequent tackle Russian world No. 40 Anna Kalinskaya, who upset world No. 3 and reigning U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
An early break of serve was sufficient for Swiatek to safe the opening set, outlasting Zheng in some key highly effective baseline battles to take the lead in 42 minutes.
Swiatek needed to save a break level in recreation 4 earlier than pouncing on the Zheng serve, and she or he did not lose one other recreation, sprinting to victory in a single hour and 26 minutes.
The four-time Grand Slam champion will face Kalinskaya for the primary time on Friday.
Kalinskaya, who reached her first main quarterfinal eventually month’s Australian Open, posted the sixth top-10 victory of her profession with a comeback effort in opposition to Gauff.
The 25-year-old is simply the fourth qualifier to succeed in the semifinals of the WTA event in Dubai.
Kalinskaya wanted medical consideration for an higher again situation late within the first set however managed to recuperate within the second and cruised within the third to stun Gauff in two hours and 17 minutes.
Six match factors saved
“I’m super happy about my game here,” mentioned Kalinskaya, who will contest her first WTA 1000 semifinal.
“She’s a great player, a great fighter. I could feel the tension until the last point, so it was very important from my side to stay focused and calm and just do my best and trying to stay aggressive.”
Meanwhile, world No. 4 Elena Rybakina withdrew forward of her scheduled quarterfinal, citing a gastrointestinal sickness.
Having gained the title in Abu Dhabi, made the ultimate in Doha, and reached the last-eight stage in Dubai, Rybakina tallied up 10 wins from 11 matches contested throughout three cities within the span of 14 days within the Middle East.
The former Wimbledon champion additionally picked up a trophy in Brisbane final month and leads the tour with 17 victories and simply three losses in 2024.
Rybakina’s resolution to tug out of the event sends Italian Jasmine Paolini into the semifinals of a WTA 1000 occasion for the primary time in her profession.
Paolini will subsequent tackle Romanian Sorana Cirstea, who mentioned she pulled off the “biggest comeback of my career” after rebounding from 2-6, 1-5 down and saving six match factors to defeat reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 2-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-2.
The seventh-seeded Vondrousova served for the match on three completely different events within the second set however could not shut, permitting Cirstea to battle again and ebook her place within the third WTA 1000 semifinal of her profession.
At 33 years of age, the Twenty second-ranked Romanian is the oldest semifinalist within the historical past of the WTA event in Dubai.
“I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect to win this one being down a set and 5-1,” admitted Cirstea, who now owns two top-10 victories in 2024.
“I looked over at the clock and I saw it was only one hour of play. I was having such great support. I said, ‘Okay, let’s try to win one more game for the public, make it a little bit longer’. I think that thing took the pressure away from me.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com
