Dubai
Sabalenka struggle spoils a perfect season

Aryna Sabalenka suffered her first loss of the season on Thursday as the Australian Open winner went down 0-6, 7-6 (2), 6-1 in the Dubai quarter-finals to fellow Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova.
Sabalena was hunting her 14th win of the season and swept the first seven games before being methodically reeled in by her Czech opponent.
The second seed had lost only two sets in 2023 and also held the title form last month in Adelaide.
Sabalenka claimed the first seven games before 2021 Roland Garros winner Krejcikova got on the scoreboard 45 minutes into the match.
From then on, the Sabalenka mistakes mounted and her game all but exited in the deciding third set as she lost in two hours.
“I was just fighting,” the winner said. “There’s not really much you can change because she serves well, she hits really hard.
“I was just trying to get to her pace, just trying to be a little more aggressive because otherwise, it’s difficult to do anything else.”
The turnaround began as the Czech trailed a set and 3-1.
“(I told myself) ‘Just go for it, just fight, just don’t leave without a fight.’
” I felt that I’m going to get some chances, in every single match you get a chance.
“I just kept going, keep trying to play my game, wait for the chance, then just try to convert it.”
Krejikova will take on third seed Jessica Pegula on Friday after Karolina Muchova withdrew with an abdominal injury.
Sabalenka now stands 13-1 on the season after her loss to the 2021 finalist here.
Krejcikova swept the last five games of the match to clinch victory, her 10th at the tournament against two defeats.
Main photo:- Barbora Kejcikova stopped Sabalenka’s win streak – by Karl Winter International Sports Fotos Ltd
Dubai
Andreeva sister showdown ended by injury

Mirra Andreeva advanced 6-2, 6-0 on Wednesday at the WTA Stuttgart event when her big sister Erika was forced to quit their match with a right knee injury.
Her 17-year-old sibling advanced to the last 16 on the indoor clay in this German car-making capital in 41 minutes,
Erika, a lucky loser from qualifying, held the edge in the sister series after a Tour win last autumn in Wuhan.
She needed a visit from the trainer for her strapped knee at the first changeover of the match and was never in with a chance against her sister, ranked seventh in the world.
Mirra, winner of back-to-back 1000-level titles this season in Dubai and Indian Wells, said her 20-year-old sibling led her into tennis
“”She started playing some tournaments and she showed me the way. Because of her, it was easier for me to start playing bigger tournaments right away.”
Mirra said it felt strange facing her close relative. “I honestly have weird emotions,. I should be a little bit happy that I won the match, but still I’m super sad it ended like that.”
The win came on the birthday of Mirra’s coach Conchita Martinez, who was serenaded by the crowd post-match.
Main photo:-Erika and Mirra Andreeva – by WTATennis.com
Dubai
Kasatkina confirms move to Australia

Daria Kastakina will make an immediate move to Australia and take over the title as national No. 1 as a result.
The 12th-ranked WTA player announced on social media that she has gained permanent residence in Oz; the Russian-born 27-year-old has based herself in Dubai and Spain for the last several seasons.
“I am delighted to let you all know that my application for permanent residency has been accepted by the Australian Government,” Kasatkina posted.
“Australia is a place I love, is incredibly welcoming and a place where I feel totally at home. I love being in Melbourne and look forward to making my home there.
She has stayed well away from Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, fearful that her antiwar stance and gay lifestyle would make life dangerous.
“I will always have respect and fond appreciation for my roots, but I am thrilled to start this new chapter in my career and my life under the Australian flag. Thank you all for your understanding and continued support.”
Dubai
Andreeva arrives among the elite with IW title win

Mirra Andreeva stunned world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday, winning her second consecutive WTA 1000-level title in less than a month.
The Indian Wells upset by the 17-year-old backed up the youngster’s Dubai title barely a fortnight ago; victory takes her to sixth in the rankings on Monday..
Andreeva held her nerve in a tight showdown, losing the opening set and drawing a warning for firing balls into the stands in anger.
But she re-grouped in the second, breaking for a 2-1 lead as she converted after wasting her first eight break points against the top seed. She levelled the set with her fifth ace, storming into the deciding chapter.
Andreeva broke to start and end the set for a title victory in just over two hours.
She extended her match win streak to 12 in a row as she picked up a third career title after facing Sabalenka for the third time this season.
Andreeva is the third youngest player to win the Indian Wells title after Martina Hingis in 1998 and Serena Williams (1999) and youngest finalist here since Kim Clijsters in 2001.
Andreeva, who also beat world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in her sprint to the title, leads the WTA with 19 wins this season.
“Last but not least, I’d like to thank myself for fighting til the end and always believing in me. For never quitting,” she said at the trophy presentation.
“I was running like a rabbit today because Aryna, she keeps sending bullets,” the winner added.
Sabalenka, a two-time Grand Slam champion, accepted defeat with good grace, joking about the much smaller runner-up trophy she received.
“I kind of have a love hate relationship with this place,” the 2023 finalist said.
“I’ll just put this trophy on top of another one and pretend it’s the winners one.. similar size.”
Main photo:- 17 year old Mirra Andreeva celebrates winning IW title – by ISF Ltd
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