Denmark’s Clara Tauson delivered the biggest victory of her career at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, ousting world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets, 6-3 6-2. With this commanding performance, the 22-year-old reached her first-ever WTA 1000 quarterfinal, avenging her loss to Sabalenka in the third round of the Australian Open last month.
Tauson controlled the match from early on, breaking Sabalenka three times in each set, never letting her opponent be in the lead for long. She fired seven aces, dominating throughout the 1-hour, 24-minute encounter. The Dane’s next opponent will be fellow first-time WTA 1000 quarterfinalist, Linda Noskova.
Noskova battles past Pegula for first WTA 1000 quarterfinal
Noskova’s remarkable Middle East campaign continued with a stunning upset over No. 5 seed Jessica Pegula, 6-3 7-6(8). The 20-year-old Czech star, fresh off a semifinal run in Abu Dhabi and the round of 16 in Doha, carried her momentum into Dubai with gritty victories over Yulia Putintseva and Diana Shnaider.
Facing Pegula, Noskova dominated early, building a commanding 6-3 4-2 lead. However, the resilient American fought back, pushing the second set to a nail-biting tiebreak. Despite Pegula holding set points to level the match, Noskova showcased nerves of steel, clinching the tiebreak 10-8 to secure her first Top 5 victory of the year and further cement her rising status on the tour.
Kenin ends injured Paolini’s title defense, advances to quarterfinals
Sofia Kenin delivered a commanding performance at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Wednesday, ending current No. 4 Jasmine Paolini’s title defense with a decisive 6-4 6-0 victory in the third round. The former world No. 4 extended her perfect record against Paolini to 3-0.
Kenin raced to a 5-3 lead in the first set, using sharp baseline angles to control the match. The second set took a dramatic turn when Paolini rolled her ankle early on, forcing a medical timeout. Despite attempting to continue, her movement was visibly hindered, and Kenin capitalized, sealing the match without dropping another game.
Paolini’s injury also led to her withdrawal from doubles, raising concerns about her immediate playing future. Kenin’s dominant win sets up a thrilling quarterfinal clash against No. 6 seed Elena Rybakina.
Rybakina saves six match points in thrilling victory over Badosa
Elena Rybakina staged one of the most dramatic comebacks of the season, saving six match points to edge out world No. 10 Paula Badosa in a grueling battle. The Kazakhstani found herself on the verge of defeat in the second-set tiebreak but fended off four match points to force a deciding set.
Badosa, appearing to struggle with a left leg injury in the final set, still managed to break Rybakina at 5-5 and held two more match points at 6-5. However, the former Wimbledon champion showed incredible resilience, erasing both chances before clinching the win 4-6 7-6(8) 7-6(2). Rybakina’s six match points saved are the most by any player in a single match this season.
Swiatek survives early challenge to defeat Yastremska
Second seed Iga Swiatek overcame a strong challenge from Dayana Yastremska before pulling away for a 7-5 6-0 win. The match, lasting 1 hour and 32 minutes, saw the Polish star withstand Yastremska’s powerful groundstrokes in the first set before completely dominating the second.
Swiatek’s ability to absorb her opponent’s aggression and shift gears in the crucial moments helped her extend her campaign in Dubai, where she remains one of the favorites for the title.
