Elena Rybakina survived a thriller for a second consecutive day because the No. 1 seed edged out Ons Jabeur 6-2 4-6 7-6 (4) to progress into the Abu Dhabi semifinal.
At the beginning of the match, it was all of the Kazakh, who claimed breaks within the second and eighth video games to routinely win the primary set.
After simply shedding the opener, the Tunisian bounced again by incomes her first two breaks within the second set to open a cushty 5-1 lead.
Whereas Rybakina managed to get one break again, she could not full her comeback as Jabeur served out for a decider within the tenth sport.
Tied to 1 set apiece, the defending champion made the primary transfer within the third set after registering a break within the sixth sport for a 4-2 lead – however her lead was short-lived as the previous world No. 2 immediately obtained the break again and in the end managed to power a tie-break.
After Jabeur opened a 4-2 lead within the tie-break, she seemed to be heading towards finishing an enormous comeback win.
However then, Rybakina received 5 factors in a row to overturn the deficit and guide a semifinal ticket.
Elena Rybakina and Ons Jabeur© Stream screenshot
A day earlier, the No. 1 seed additionally wanted three units to beat qualifier Katie Volynets 2-6 6-4 6-4.
Rybakina performs subsequent in opposition to Belinda Bencic
Subsequent up for the Kazakh can be Swiss wildcard Bencic, who defeated Marketa Vondrousova in straight units right this moment.
For the 27-year-old Swiss, will probably be her first WTA semifinal since changing into a mom and she or he already has 10 wins in 2025.
“I was really worried that the speed of the ball and the speed of how the girls are serving now, and returning and everything, would be maybe a bit too much, or a little bit too early for me,” the previous world No. 4 mentioned in her on-court interview right this moment.
“But I’m also someone that plays fast, and I’m happy to see it’s not such a big difference. The most I saw is that I have to work physically very hard.”
Rybakina and Bencic cut up wins of their first two conferences, which got here in 2021.
