© Getty Images Sport – Christopher Pike
Iga Swiatek made amends for her 2023 Wimbledon quarterfinal defeat by ousting Elina Svitolina to reach the Dubai quarterfinal, while Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina were made to work hard before securing a last-eight ticket in the United Arab Emirates.
In their first meeting since the 2023 Wimbledon quarterfinal, No. 1 seed Swiatek saw off Svitolina 6-1 6-4 to progress into her second Dubai quarterfinal. On the other side, No. 3 seed Gauff came back from a set down to beat former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova 2-6 6-4 6-3, while fourth-seeded Rybakina also needed three sets to beat world No. 53 Magdalena Frech 7-6 (5) 3-6 6-4.
Swiatek, who was beaten by Svitolina in her first Wimbledon quarterfinal eight months ago, got off to an outstanding to her Dubai quarterfinal as she broke Svitolina in the fourth and sixth games to routinely win the first set with just one game lost. In the second set, Swiatek twice blew a break but kept her focus and broke Svitolina again in the ninth before serving out for a two-set win in the following game.
Swiatek plays next against 2024 Australian Open finalist Zheng Qinwen, who defeated Anastasia Potapova.
