Rybakina Triumphs in Abu Dhabi Thriller as Watson Falls in Doubles

Elena Rybakina continued her impressive form at the Abu Dhabi Open, securing a hard-fought victory against Ons Jabeur with a scoreline of 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4). This match was a rematch of the 2022 Wimbledon final, where Rybakina emerged victorious. The Kazakh player showcased her resilience, especially in the final set tie-break, after failing to convert two match points earlier.

In another highlight of the tournament, Belinda Bencic, a Swiss wildcard, advanced to the semi-finals by defeating Marketa Vondrousova with a score of 7-5, 6-3. Bencic will now face Rybakina in what promises to be an exciting clash.

The tournament also saw an upset as Leylah Fernandez, the eighth seed, was defeated by Ashlyn Krueger, ranked 51st in the world, with a score of 7-5, 4-6, 6-2. Meanwhile, in the women's doubles quarter-finals, Heather Watson and her partner Luisa Stefani were beaten by the fourth-seeded pair Zhang Shuai and Kristina Mladenovic with a score of 5-7, 6-2, 10-3.

Other notable results include top seeds Jelena Ostapenko and Ellen Perez cruising through their quarter-final match against Timea Babos and Nicole Melichar-Martinez with a score of 6-4, 6-4. Additionally, Vondrousova and Laura Samsonova secured a convincing win against Makoto Ninomiya and Ulrikke Eikeri with a score of 6-4, 6-1.

In other tennis news, Madison Keys, the reigning Australian Open champion, has withdrawn from the upcoming Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships due to a leg injury. Keys has been sidelined since her triumph over Aryna Sabalenka last month.

For more updates, follow live scores, results, and the order of play on our dedicated tennis section.