Dubai Duty Free Championships: Krejcikova snaps Sabalenka streak, through to semi-finals

Czech Barbora Krejcikova beat Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the second seed, 0-6, 7-6 (2), 6-1 to move into the semi-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Championships at The Aviation Club Tennis Centre on Thursday.

Krejcikova, ranked No 30, will face American Jessica Pegula, the No 3 seed, next.

Sabalenka was unbeaten so far this year – and looked set to continue that record before Krejcikova’s second-set resurgence.

The Czech is a former runner-up at this tournament, losing in the 2021 final – the only other time she has reached the last four of a WTA 1000 tournament. This win is her second career Top 2 win, having beaten Iga Swiatek in last year’s Ostrava final.

The Czech won against Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu (6-4, 6-2), Russian Daria Kasatkina, the No 7 seed (6-4, 4-6, 7-5) and No 12 seed Petra Kvitova (6-3, 6-2) ahead of her victory.

In the previous rounds of the Dubai Open, Sabalenka, ranked No 2, won against American lucky loser Lauren Davis (6-0, 6-1) and Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, the No 13 seed (2-6, 6-1, 6-1).

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Dubai WTA 1000, other last 8 results (The Aviation Club Tennis Centre, hard, USD 2.788.468, most recent results first):

• Iga Swiatek vs. Karolina Pliskova
• Karolina Muchova vs. Jessica Pegula
• Coco Gauff (5) beat Madison Keys: 6-2, 7-5