Rybakina Withdraws, Paolini Advances: Dubai Tennis Championships Updates

Elena Rybakina the No.4 seed has withdrawn from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships quarterfinals due to gastrointestinal illness. Consequently, Jasmine Paolini advances to the semifinals via walkover. Paolini ranked No.26 will face Sorana Cirstea in the semifinals who staged a remarkable comeback against No.7 seed Marketa Vondrousova, winning 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-2 after being a set and 5-1 down.

The winner of the Paolini-Cirstea matchup will achieve a Top 20 debut in the WTA rankings. Rybakina with a strong performance in 2024 had won two titles and reached the Doha final. Cirstea’s comeback against Vondrousova is hailed as one of the biggest in her career reaching her third WTA 1000 semifinal.