Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open: Rybakina reaches semi-finals

Kazakh Elena Rybakina, the top seed, edged out Tunisian Ons Jabeur 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (4) to move into the semi-finals of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open at the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City on Thursday afternoon.

In the first set, it was vintage Rybakina – with the former Wimbledon champion only facing one break point thanks to an 82 percent win rate on her first set. Jabeur, on the other hand, was down at a disappointing 46 percent, being broken twice in the set, including the final game.

The second was a much closer affair, with the Kazakh broken in her opening service game after letting a 30-0 lead slip. In the very next game, the Tunisian saved a crucial break point of her own, before holding for a 2-0 lead. Jabeur would break again for a decisive 4-1 double break lead, however, whilst trying to serve out the set at 5-2, Rybakina broke-to-love. On the second time of asking, Jabeur did manage to clinch the set and send the match into a decider.

In the final set, both players traded breaks – with Rybakina getting her foot up first at 3-2, before losing the set in the subsequent game. Jabeur would valiantly save a match point at 6-5, before the former Wimbledon champion went on to win seven of the final nine points in the tiebreak.

Rybakina, ranked No 5, will face Swiss wildcard Belinda Bencic next.

The Kazakh edged out American qualifier Katie Volynets (2-6, 6-4, 6-4) ahead of her victory.

Earlier in the tournament, Jabeur, ranked No 33, defeated Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, the No 7 seed (7-6 (4), 7-5) and Japanese qualifier Wakana Sonobe (6-3, 6-3).

Abu Dhabi WTA 500, other last eight results (International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City, hard, USD 1.064.510, most recent results first):

• Magda Linette vs. Linda Noskova
• Ashlyn Krueger beat Leylah Fernandez (8): 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
• Belinda Bencic beat Marketa Vondrousova (WC): 7-5, 6-3