Safe passage for the top seeds in “Dubai Tennis”.. Rybakina is in the lead

The top seeds imposed their say in the second round (32) of the Dubai Tennis Championship for professional women’s players, currently being held at the Dubai Duty Free courts in the Al Garhoud area, in the 1,000 point category, with total prizes amounting to $4.08 million, which continues until February 21, after they succeeded in safely reserving their seats in the round of sixteen.

Kazakhstani Elena Rybakina, ranked first in the tournament and third in the world, topped the list of qualifiers, following her well-deserved victory over Australian Kimberly Birrell (96th in the world) in two sets without a response (6-1, 6-2).

In the quarter-finals, Rybakina will meet Croatian Antonia Rogic (67th in the world), who reached the same round by defeating Russian Anastasia Zakharova (104th in the world).

In turn, American Coco Gauff, ranked third in the tournament and fourth in the world, confirmed her strong presence, after overturning her deficit in both groups to a well-deserved victory over Russian Anna Kalinskaya (23rd in the world) with a score of (6-4, 6-4).

In the 16th round, Gauff will face Belgian Elise Mertens, who defeated American Emma Navarro in two sets to no response (6-2, 6-2).

American Jessica Pegula, ranked fourth in the tournament and fifth in the world, also qualified for the quarter-finals after defeating Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva (60th in the world) in two sets without a response (6-4 and 6-0).

Pegula set up a date with her rising compatriot Emma Navarro, who in turn qualified after her victory over Russian Diana Schneider.

For her part, Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, ranked ninth in the world and Dubai champion in 2017 and 2018, reached the same round, following the withdrawal of Spanish Paula Badosa due to injury, after Svitolina was leading in the first set (6-4).

In the next round, Svitolina will meet Swiss Belinda Bencic, champion of the 2019 edition, who in turn qualified following the withdrawal of Czech Sarah Belek.

In the same scenario, Romanian Jacqueline Christian (39th in the world) qualified for the quarter-finals after German Ella Seidel withdrew, following Christian’s lead in the first group (6-1).