Dubai quarterfinal preview: Pegula looking to hold off Muchova
Iga Swiatek
Dubai: Scores | Draw | Order of play
Swiatek instead will meet the quarterfinal winner of No.5 seed Coco Gauff
Here’s a closer look at that encounter and the rest of Thursday’s schedule:
No.2 Aryna Sabalenka
In her first 12 matches of the year, Sabalenka dropped only a single set -- in the Australian Open final before rallying to defeat Elena Rybakina
Sabalenka dethrones Ostapenko with three-set comeback in Dubai
It happened again Wednesday, when Sabalenka found herself in an awkward hole against No.13 seed and defending Dubai champion Jelena Ostapenko
"She was already a Grand Slam champion so I was just really looking up to her, trying to get where she was. It's a really big win."
— wta (@WTA) February 22, 2023
🇨🇿 @BKrejcikova on @Petra_Kvitova 💜 pic.twitter.com/c0UgC1YwW3
“To be honest, she played unbelievable tennis in the first set,” Sabalenka told reporters afterward. “I wasn’t really ready for that fast tennis. She was just getting everything, and everything was in. I don't know, magically I turn around this match, start playing even more aggressive, step in a little bit, put her under pressure, especially on her serve.”
Sabalenka is the first woman to win her first 13 matches of the season since Serena Williams in 2015. Only Caroline Garcia
Krejcikova, meanwhile, was a 6-3, 6-2 winner over fellow Czech Republic player Petra Kvitova. Krejcikova took out No.7-seeded Daria Kasatkina
Sabalenka holds a 2-0 head-to-head edge, with victories in the 2020 Linz semifinals and the 2021 US Open quarterfinals.
No.3 Jessica Pegula
Pegula is back where she always seems to be in these big events; this is her fifth straight quarterfinal berth in a Hologic WTA Tour 1000 hard-court tournament. Only Pliskova has done that in the period since 2009.
By the numbers: Muchova ends Bencic streak, to face Pegula in Dubai quarters
Reaching the final in Doha, despite losing to Swiatek, was a confidence-builder for Pegula.
“I’m glad I got to play Iga in a final,” Pegula told reporters in Dubai. “A lot of times last year I played her in the quarters or semis, being on her same side of the draw. I think my level’s there.
“I think Iga was just playing at a really high level the whole week. Just seemed like it was her week. But hopefully next time. ... I was able to beat her in Sydney which I think helped my confidence, how I need to play her.”
That opportunity wouldn’t come again until Saturday’s Dubai final, requiring two match wins for both players. First, though, Pegula must deal with Muchova, who appears to be approaching vintage form.
They’ve never met, but this promises to be a competitive match. Muchova scored an impressive 6-1, 6-4 win over Tokyo gold medalist Belinda Bencic
No.5 Coco Gauff
Keys is still working with the momentum gained from a United Cup team victory earlier this year in Australia. She went 5-0 in singles.
“I definitely think American tennis is in a good place,” she said in Dubai. “It was the best two weeks of my life. We’re all trying to encourage each other to keep doing well.”
4 - Two 🇺🇸 players will face each other in a WTA-1000 QFs for the fourth time - since 2009:
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) February 22, 2023
Collins - V. Williams | Miami 2018
Keys - V. Williams | Cincinnati 2019
Pegula - Stephens | Guadalajara 2022
Gauff - Keys | #Dubai 2023
Stars.@WTA_insider @WTA | #DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/2byS1QeyPg
That feeling of comradery will be suspended for a few hours Thursday when she meets Gauff, who was granted a walkover by reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina
Swiatek cruises in Dubai; Gauff and Keys set quarterfinal meeting
Keys, 28, was 0-4 in career matches against Victoria Azarenka
The two have met twice, both matches coming last year. Keys won a three-set semifinal match in Adelaide and Gauff returned the favor in the third round of the US Open, 6-2, 6-3.
