WTA roundup: Jessica Pegula cruises into Austin semifinals
Top-seeded Jessica Pegula needed just 58 minutes on Friday to post a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Russia's Anna Blinkova to reach the semifinals of the ATX Open in Austin, Texas.
Paula Badosa Sport News
Mirra Andreeva Holds Off Elena Rybakina To Become Youngest WTA 1000 Finalist
Teenager Mirra Andreeva toppled another seed at the Dubai Championships, upsetting Elena Rybakina on Friday to become the youngest player to reach the final of a WTA 1000 tournament. The Russian 17-year-old fought back from 1-3 down in the deciding set to beat seventh-seeded Rybakina 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 and move into the first WTA 1000 final of her career. Andreeva is the youngest player to beat multiple Grand Slam champions at a tournament of this level. She has ousted Iga Swiatek, Marketa Vondrousova, and now Rybakina, en route to the final.
Sabalenka blames lack of focus for Dubai exit
World number one Aryna Sabalenka blamed a lack of focus and motivation for her last-16 defeat at the Dubai Championships, where she fell 6-3 6-2 to world number 38 Clara Tauson.
Sabalenka thrashed in Dubai as Paolini’s title defense ends
DUBAI: World number one Aryna Sabalenka slumped to a 6-3, 6-2 loss against Denmark’s Clara Tauson in the last 16 of the Dubai Championships on Wednesday, as Jasmine Paolini’s title defense came to a painful end. Sabalenka, who beat the 38th-ranked Tauson on her way to last month’s Australian Open final, suffered a second straight premature exit after losing in her opening match in Qatar a week ago. Tauson broke Sabalenka’s serve six times and the Dane will go on to play Czech youngster Linda Noskova, who knocked out fifth seed Jessica Pegula in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals. The 22-year-old Tauson beat Noskova in the first round of the Australian Open.
Auger-Aliassime displays powerful serve in 1st-round victory at Qatar Open
Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime advanced to the second round of the Qatar Open tennis tournament with a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2) win over French qualifier Quentin Halys on Tuesday in Doha.
World Number One Aryna Sabalenka Dumped Out Of Qatar Open
World number one Aryna Sabalenka suffered a shock defeat in the second round of the Qatar Open on Tuesday. The Belarusian was thwarted by Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) in a tense encounter lasting over two and a half hours. This was Sabalenka's first match since losing the Australian Open final in three sets to Madison Keys in January. Alexandrova has turned up in Doha in good form after claiming her fifth WTA title in Linz last week.
Gauff dumped out of Qatar Open by Kostyuk, Rybakina prospers
DOHA: Coco Gauff suffered a surprise early exit from the Qatar Open on Tuesday with a straight-sets defeat by Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, while Elena Rybakina eased into the last 16.
Five things to look out for at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open
ABU DHABI: The Women’s Tennis Association’s Middle East swing kicks off its three-week stint in the Gulf on Monday with the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open.