Rybakina passes in three sets, Ostapenko takes the door

Victorious in Abu Dhabi and finalist in Doha, Elena Rybakina feels good in the Middle East, and she will also compete in the quarter-finals in Dubai. The world No. 4, beneficiary of Victoria Azarenka’s abandonment at the end of the second set on Tuesday, needed three sets, but she ended up eliminating Magdalena Frech (53rd) with a score of 7-6, 3-6 , 6-4 in 2h40. Despite 13 aces and 63% first serves, the Kazakh was broken three times in this meeting, but the essential is assured with qualification. Frech led 5-3 in the first set, but broke down when serving to win the set (5-5), and it was ultimately Rybakina who took the upper hand in a stunning decisive game (7-5 ​​after having been led 5-2).

The Pole took the lead again in the second set (3-1 then 5-2) but this time she managed to maintain her advantage to equalize at one set all. In the third set, both players held their serve well, up to 5-4 in favor of Rybakina, who broke at the best moment, converting her second opportunity, which was therefore a match point. Without shining, here she is in the quarter-finals, where she will challenge Jasmine Paolini, the winner of Maria Sakkari.

Ostapenko did not hold

The revenge, the tournament is over for the one who has already lifted two trophies this season, in Adelaide and Linz, Jelena Ostapenko. The Latvian, world No. 9, was defeated by No. 40, Anna Kalinskaya, who won 6-4, 7-5 in 1h33. The former winner of Roland-Garros led 4-2 in the first set, before losing four games in a row. Ditto in the second set, where she broke from the start but failed to keep her lead. The Russian took her faceoff at 5-5, then saved two break points when serving to win the match, before winning on her second match point. Next opponent: Coco Gauff or Karolina Pliskova.