DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — Iga Swiatek survived a grueling battle against Sloane Stephens while Aryna Sabalenka blamed unfavorable conditions for her second-round defeat to Donna Vekic in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Tuesday.
The top-seeded Swiatek, who clinched her third consecutive Doha title on Saturday and had a first round bye in this event, had to dig deep to overcome former US Open champion Stephens 6-4, 6-4 in a tug of war that witnessed eight breaks of serve and a combined 23 break points.
“We had a lot of tight games. I really needed to perform a little bit better in those important moments because I couldn’t convert some break points. But I’m happy that in the end I did,” said Swiatek, who takes on two-time Dubai champion Elina Svitolina in the Last 16.
“Yeah, it wasn’t easy. It’s nice that I played even a longer match here so I could adjust to the surface.”
Meanwhile, second seed Sabalenka fell 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-0 to familiar foe Vekic in what was her first appearance since she successfully defended her title at the Australian Open last month.
Sabalenka blew a 7-6, 2-0 lead and lost the last nine games of the clash to succumb to her Croatian opponent in two hours and 22 minutes.
“I feel like the conditions here don’t fit me well at all. It’s really tricky for me to compete here in Dubai. Really tricky court for me. It’s super-fast for me. Like no rhythm at all,” said the world number two.
“I’ll stay here for a couple of days, then I’m going to move to L.A. and keep practicing, keep fixing problems which happened today. Hopefully I’ll be in better shape for Indian Wells.”
The 31st-ranked Vekic, who now owns a 6-2 head-to-head lead in lifetime meetings against Sabalenka, was aggressive throughout the match and enters her next clash with big-hitting Romanian Sorana Cirstea searching for her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal of her career.
“To be honest, I didn’t have big expectations coming to Dubai. Told my coach that I’m taking this week as a half holiday. I can tell you I spent more time on the beach than on the court. Maybe that’s a good way going forward,” laughed Vekic, who is now 9-13 against top-five opposition.
Fourth seed Elena Rybakina advanced to the third round when her opponent Victoria Azarenka retired with an undisclosed injury. Azarenka took the first set before Rybakina leveled the match 4-6, 6-2.
The former world No. 1 called the trainer between sets and decided to pull out of the contest to avoid further damage, sending Rybakina to a Last 16 meeting with Polish qualifier Magdalena Frech.
Over on Court 1, Australian Open finalist Zheng Qinwen needed medical attention after dropping the opening set to Nao Hibino. The Chinese world No. 7 had her vitals checked and took some medication before coming back for a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 victory.
“I’ve been sick for the past five days, I haven’t been feeling well, breathing hard,” Zheng said after the match.
“I just told myself keep going, everything can happen at a certain point. Never give up, even if I feel bad like today. I have to say thank you to myself to push hard for this match and win.”
Earlier on Centre Court, eighth seed Maria Sakkari snapped a three-match losing streak and claimed her first-ever Dubai main-draw victory, on her fourth attempt, with a 6-2, 6-4 triumph over in-form American Emma Navarro.
After suffering opening round exits in Abu Dhabi and Doha, Sakkari was admittedly nervous ahead of her clash with Navarro, who is already a title-winner in 2024 and has amassed 13 victories in the first two months of the season.
