Ajit Karn
Dubai Tennis Championships: Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarterfinals of the Dubai Championships by defeating Jelena Ostapenko 2-6 6-1 6-1 to improve her record to 13-0 in 2018.
Sabalenka’s next opponent will be Barbora Krejcikova, who defeated fellow Czech Petra Kvitova 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday.
Iga Swiatek advanced to the quarterfinals earlier by defeating Liudmila Samsonova 6-1 6-0.
After former No. 1 Karolina Pliskova withdrew due to illness, the 21-year-old Polish player was granted a walkover to the semifinals. Pliskova advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Anhelina Kalinina in the round of 16 7-5 6-7(6) 6-2.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek has won her last five matches, including last week’s successful defence of her Qatar Open dubai tennis championships.
Swiatek will face the winner of the quarterfinal match between Madison Keys and Coco Gauff, both of whom are American.
Keys defeated Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 6-1, and the 18-year-old Gauff advanced after the runner-up at the Australian Open, Elena Rybakina, withdrew due to a lower back injury.
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In the other match of the final eight, the third-ranked Jessica Pegula faces the eighth-ranked Karolina Muchova.
