Dubai: Plíšková withdrew after advancing to the quarterfinals. Muchová stopped Bencicová, Krejčíková eliminated Kvitová

Karolina Plíšková with the help of a favorable draw, she made it to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, but at the other four events this year, she finished in the second round at the latest and always against an opponent in the Top 20. In two tournaments, she even completed her first qualifying matches since August 2014.

The 30-year-old Czech got another solid result at the first “thousands race” of the year in Dubai, where she easily beat compatriot Markéta Vondroušová and world number seven Maria Sakkariová. She had the most work in the round of 16 with Anhelina Kalininováhowever, she complicated the process herself and defeated the tenacious Ukrainian only after almost three hours of fighting 7-5 6-7(6) 6-2.

Plíšková had to eliminate two break points in the opening and second sets, she always created one chance for herself and converted both. At 7-5 6-5, at the least suitable moment, despite two match points, she hesitated on service for the first and last time in the match, eventually lost the set in a tie-break and had to go to the deciding act. However, the former world number one did not allow herself to be defeated and in the final race she clearly had the upper hand, although she did not even hit half of the first serves.

Statistics of the match Plíšková – Kalininová

26 – Karolina Pliskova has reached her 26th career WTA-1000 quarterfinal, equalling Angelique Kerber as the 8th player with the most – since 2009. Continuity.@WTA_insider @WTA | #DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/Am3lWuGZJd

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) February 22, 2023

Plíšková resigned due to illness
2015 finalist Pliskova reached her 26th WTA 1000 quarter-final in Dubai, tying Angelique Kerber for eighth in the all-time rankings.

She had to fight against for the first semi-final this year Ize Šwiateková, with whom she did not play a single game in the only previous match in the final in Rome 2021. Against the world number one, who has lost only eight games in the last five matches, but he will not start. After today’s victory, she apologized to the organizers and resigned due to illness.

“I’m very sorry, but I have to withdraw from the tournament. It’s a big disappointment, especially since I played in the final here a few years ago and I did so well this year. But after suffering from a virus and cramps for hours after the match, I’m not able to continue “, Plíšková said on social networks.

Šwiateková continues her superb performances from Doha, where she defended her title a week ago and lost only five games in three matches. In the round of 16, the Polish tennis player outclassed her 6-1 6-0 Lyudmila Samsonovova and followed up yesterday’s 6-1 6-1 win over Canada’s Fernandez.

Karolina Muchová she returned last March after a several-month break caused by an abdominal muscle injury and played only two quarterfinals (Tallinn 2022 and Auckland 2023). She secured her return to the elite 100 ranking only at her second start in Dubai, where three years ago she crashed in the very first round to Kateřina Siniaková.

She is still unbeaten at the WTA 1000 event in the United Arab Emirates, beating Bernarda Pera and Sorana Cirstea 6-1 6-4 on a seven-match unbeaten run Belindu Bencicovou, who triumphed in Abu Dhabi two weeks ago, ending her unbeaten streak in the Middle East this year. She found the recipe for it on the third try.

The 26-year-old Czech had the upper hand from the start and showed the only hesitation on service in the second half of the second act, when she allowed the Swiss woman with Slovak roots to level from 2-4 to 4-4. In the last two games, however, she dominated again and overcame her tired opponent, who did not start the quarterfinals a week ago in Doha due to exhaustion and spent three and a half hours on the court yesterday. This is her seventh career Top 10 scalp (7-10 record) and first since last year’s French Open.

Statistics of the match Muchová – Bencicová

The former world number 19 will aim for the first semi-final at the biggest WTA tournaments and the first since the Australian Open 2021 in the first match with the seeded three Jessica Pegula. The American also managed another qualifier, today she defeated Ana Bogdanova 6-4 6-3.

Only the third player to defeat Bencic this year

A 6-1, 6-4 victory sends @karomuchova7 into a Dubai quarterfinal against No.3 seed Pegula!#DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/mmV2TO4tbQ

— wta (@WTA) February 22, 2023

In the possible semi-finals, Muchová could meet a compatriot Barbora Krejčíková. Last year’s finalist defeated the 2013 champion 6-3 6-2 in the Czech derby today Petra Kvitovawith whom she fought for the first time in a fierce match.

In the first quarter-final of the year in singles, 27-year-old Krejčíková will challenge the undefeated this year Aryna Sabalenkova (h2h 0-2). The winner of this year’s Australian Open defeated the Latvian defending champion 2-6 6-1 6-1 Jelena Ostapenko and won the 13th match of the year.

They form the last quarter-final pair Madison Keysová s Cori Gauffovou (H2H 1-1). Keys beat Viktoria Azarenka at the fifth attempt. The American outplayed the injured former finalist easily 6-2 6-1, improving her record to 10-2 this season and advancing to the top eight for the first time this year.

On Thursday, he will play his first quarter-final away from home since last year’s Australian Open. Gauff went on without a fight after the resignation of Jelena Rybakinová.

Šwiateková is already waiting for the winner of the American duel in the semi-finals.