Dubai Duty Free Championships: Sabalenka battles back to beat Ostapenko for last-eight spot

Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the second seed, beat Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, the No 13 seed and defending champion, 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 to move into the last 8 of the Dubai Duty Free Championships at The Aviation Club Tennis Centre on Wednesday evening.

Sabalenka, ranked No 2, will play the winner of the match between Barbora Krejcikova and No 12 seed Petra Kvitova next. She’s now 13-0 for the year, having won her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January.

Ahead of her victory, the Belarusian won against American lucky loser Lauren Davis (6-0, 6-1).

Ostapenko, ranked No 20, defeated Ukrainian Katarina Zavatska (6-1, 6-4) and Czech wildcard Linda Fruhvirtova (6-2, 6-0) in the previous rounds of the Dubai Open.

Dubai WTA 1000, other last 16 results (The Aviation Club Tennis Centre, hard, USD 2.788.468, most recent results first):

• Barbora Krejcikova vs. Petra Kvitova
• Elena Rybakina vs. Coco Gauff
• Iga Swiatek (1) beat Liudmila Samsonova (14): 6-1, 6-0
• Karolina Muchova beat Belinda Bencic (8): 6-1, 6-4
• Madison Keys beat Victoria Azarenka (15): 6-2, 6-1
• Jessica Pegula (3) beat Ana Bogdan (Q): 6-4, 6-3
• Karolina Pliskova beat Anhelina Kalinina: 7-5, 6-7 (6), 6-2