Rybakina survives Volynets scare to reach last eight in Abu Dhabi

Kazakh Elena Rybakina, the top seed, edged out American qualifier Katie Volynets 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the last eight of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open at the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City on Wednesday.

Rybakina needed to save seven of the 11 break points Volynets in the battle that saw the former commit seven double faults.

The defending champion crossed the finish line after two hours, 29 minutes, breaking the American four times and hitting seven aces.

Rybakina, ranked No 5, will face the winner of the match between Japanese qualifier Wakana Sonobe and Tunisian Ons Jabeur next.

In the previous round of the Abu Dhabi tournament, Volynets, ranked No 68, edged out qualifier Sonay Kartal (3-6, 6-4, 6-4).

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

• Linda Noskova vs. Paula Badosa
• Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs. Magda Linette
• Wakana Sonobe vs. Ons Jabeur
• Ashlyn Krueger vs. Daria Kasatkina: wednesday
• Leylah Fernandez (8) beat Lulu Sun: 6-0, 6-3
• Marketa Vondrousova (WC) beat Yulia Putintseva (4): 6-2, 6-3
• Belinda Bencic (WC) beat Veronika Kudermetova (LL): 6-0, 6-0

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