Rybakina battles past Ons Jabeur to reach Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open semifinals
ABU DHABI: Top seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan edged past Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (4) in a thrilling quarterfinal encounter at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open on Thursday.
Jabeur showcased her resilience, saving two consecutive match points in the 12th game of the third set to force a tiebreaker. She then surged to a 4-2 lead in the tiebreak, but Rybakina responded decisively, winning the final five points to secure her place in the semifinals.
Rybakina remains the last seeded player in the tournament after American Ashlyn Krueger upset eighth seed Leylah Fernandez of Canada 7-5, 4-6, 6-2. The 20-year-old Krueger, who has one WTA singles title to her name, delivered eight aces and broke Fernandez’s serve eight times.
In the semifinals, Krueger will face Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic, who defeated Poland’s Magda Linette 6-4, 6-3. Rybakina is set to battle Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, who overcame 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 7-5, 6-3.
