The semifinals of the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships have been set on Thursday with four players emerging from the tournament’s quarterfinal stage.
Continuing what has been a remarkable tournament after all eight seeds failed to make the quarters on Wednesday, the round of the last eight was not without surprises either, as Caroline Garcia won her match against Andrea Petkovic. Winning the match in straight sets, Garcia was victorious against Petkovic for the first time in her career, making her first semifinal of the season.
The second match of the day was much less straightforward, as Sara Errani & Madison Brengle were involved in a 2:22 hour three-set battle. Being up 4-1 in the deciding set, Brengle failed to close the deal, allowing Errani to squeeze by her.
After Elina Svitolina got past Coco Vandeweghe in three sets, it was time for the final upset of the day as Barbora Strycova shocked Ana Ivanovic, sending the Serbian fan favorite packing. Strycova completes what is a highly unusual semifinal lineup for a WTA Premier tournament, as the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships will definitely crown a champion nobody would have picked to win the tournament before the week started.
