Rybakina defeats Ons at Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open in straight sets

Photo : Reuters

Ons Jabeur played against Elena Rybakina in the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open. It was their sixth match against each other, and both players had strong moments. The match was very close and was finally decided by a tie-break.

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Rybakina, the champion from last year, had a tough match in the last round but started much better this time. She won the first set easily. Jabeur did not give up and fought back in the second set to make it 1-1.

In the last set, Rybakina looked ready to win when she broke Jabeur’s serve and led 3-2. But Jabeur played bravely, broke back right away, and made it 4-4. Both players held their serves, and the match went into a tie-break.

In the tie-break, Rybakina stayed calm and won the match 6-2, 4-6, 7-6. Jabeur was out of the tournament, while Rybakina moved to the semi-finals.

Earlier, Belinda Bencic faced Marketa Vondrousova in another big match. This was a repeat of their 2020 Olympics final, where Bencic had won gold.

Bencic had played a great match in the last round, not losing a single game. But this time, it was much harder. There were 11 breaks of serve, making it difficult for both players to find their rhythm.

Bencic stayed strong and won the first set 7-5. Since returning from maternity leave last year, she has been improving. She played with confidence in the second set and won 7-5, 6-3 to reach the semi-finals.

In another quarter-final, Ashlyn Krueger defeated Leylah Fernandez in an exciting match. Krueger had already beaten last year’s finalist, Daria Kasatkina, in the last round.

Krueger served very well, hitting eight aces, including five in the first set, which she won 7-5. Fernandez fought hard and won the second set. Though she made seven double faults, she still played well and made the match exciting.

In the final set, Krueger played with great power and won 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, reaching her first WTA 500 semi-final.

Krueger will now play against Linda Noskova. Noskova had also won her match in straight sets, beating Magda Linette.

Now, the semi-final matches are set, and the tournament is getting more exciting.