Jabeur, Halep survive day of upsets in Dubai

Thursday, 17 February 2022 11:00

It was a day of stunning upsets at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Wednesday as defending champion Garbine Muguruza, 2021 finalist Barbora Krejcikova, former two-time winner Elina Svitolina and sixth seed Iga Swiatek all failed to advance beyond the second round.

Jil Teichmann was the first to reach the quarter-finals as she defeated Svitolina to win 7-6 6-2.

Jelena Ostapenko defeated Swiatek 4-6 6-1 7-6, qualifier Dayana Yastremska beat second seeded Krejcikova 6-3 7-6 and Veronika Kudermetova overcame fourth seeded Muguruza 3-6 6-4 6-4.

Top seed and world number two Aryna Sabalenka also fell as she was beaten by former champion Petra Kvitova, who won 6-4 6-4.

Ons Jabeur is now the only seed left in the tournament after she overwhelmed Jessica Pegula 6-3 6-1, although two-time former champion Simona Halep is still a strong contender for the title after she defeated qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3 6-2.

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