Rybakina delivers statement win over Pliskova to reach Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open quarters

10.02.2023 - 05:45 thenationalnews.com

Elena Rybakina cemented her status as one of the title favourites at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open by opening her campaign with a statement victory over former world No 1 Karolina Pliskova on Thursday.

The Kazakh third seed, one of four players to receive byes into the second round, showed no signs of any lingering effects from a gruelling Australian Open campaign by easing past her Czech opponent 6-4, 6-2.

The Wimbledon champion earned the only break of the first set in the very first game and that proved all the advantage she needed to take a one-set lead.

The second set was more one-sided, Rybakina winning five straight games for a 5-1 lead. From there, the outcome felt inevitable as Rybakina, who arrived in Abu Dhabi after finishing runner-up at the Australian Open, served out the victory to love.

Sporting win Elena Rybakina Karolina Pliskova Daria Kasatkina Russia Switzerland Australia Abu Dhabi Czech Republic Sport

Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka remain on course to meet in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after coming through their last-16 matches in contrasting fashion. World No. 1 Swiatek recorded another dominant win as she beat Liudmila Samsonova 6-1 6-0 – and then got a bye into the semi-finals as Karolina Pliskova withdrew from the tournament due to illness.

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The hard-hitting Belarusian collapsed to the court in tears after winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 against Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in a high-quality 2hr 28min arm-wrestle on Rod Laver Arena.

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