Vondrousova to play semifinals in Dubai, beats Yastremska in quarterfinals

The women’s tennis circuit visited the Arabian Peninsula, where a tournament is currently underway in Dubai. The winner will receive 500 ranking points in addition to the valuable title. However, this event is a disaster for the favourites, as all the seeded players have already dropped out. Two players from the Czech Republic took advantage of this and made it to the top eight. Although Kvitova has already failed at this stage of the tournament, Vondroušová is moving on. She beat Yastremska in the quarterfinals and will play Kudermetova in the final.

An early end to the biggest favourites

The development of the tournament is very surprising, as all the big favourites have already dropped out in the previous rounds. Sabalenka, Badosa, Swiatek, Muguruza and Krejcikova finished unexpectedly early.

Only one seeded player (Jabeur) reached the quarterfinals, but her tournament journey ended in the quarterfinals. So it is certain that the winner of the tournament will be someone from whom it was not expected.

Petra Kvitova also made it into the top 8, and she faced Ostapenko in the quarterfinals. It was the best tournament of the season for the experienced Czech, she even knocked out Belarusian Sabalenka in the previous round.

Kvitova had the semifinals within reach

The two-time Grand Slam champion also had a great run in the quarterfinals. After a bad start, she won the first set 7::5. In the end of the second and third set she served twice to win, but failed both times. Kvitova eventually lost to the Latvian 7::5, 5::7, 6::7 and ends up in the quarterfinals. There is no return to the top 20 yet.

Markéta Vondroušová also reached the same stage of the tournament. The 22-year-old Czech made great use of the easier draw and had a relatively easy path to the quarterfinals. Her next opponent was Ukraine’s Yastremska, who surprisingly knocked out Krejcikova. Vondrousova could avenge her compatriot and achieve the biggest result of the season.

Best performance of the season for Vondrousova

The Czech favourite had a similarly lukewarm start to the match as Kvitova. The Ukrainian had the first set within reach, leading 5: 2. But Vondroušová fought back and produced a fantastic turnaround in the opening set. From 2::5 she won 5 games in a row to take it 7::5.

The next set was similarly dramatic. The Czech tennis player started it well thanks to a break point. However, she lost her serve immediately afterwards and the match was tied. After that, the players held their serve quite comfortably, which was true until the score 3: 4.

Yastremska won two break points, but thanks to four points in a row the Czech managed to level the match. The advantage of the moment was on her side and she took advantage of it perfectly.

Vondroušová had a great end of the second set, which she managed to do very well. She defeated the tough Ukrainian 7::5 and 6::4 and will play in the semifinals for the first time this season. Her opponent will be Russia’s Kudermetova.

Source: WTA, Twitter