WTA Dubai: quarterfinals against Iga Swiatek? No thank you!
For the second time in a row , Iga Swiatek reached the semi-finals without a fight. This time at the WTA Tour 1000 tournament in Dubai.
by tennisnet.com
last edit:
Feb 23, 2023, 08:22 am
The mutual esteem between Iga Swiatek and Andy Murray is great, as a friendly exchange on social media over the last few days has shown again. Things are going well on the court this week for both the two-time Olympic gold medalist and the Polish world number one: Murray has reached the quarter-finals in Doha, Swiatek in Dubai. But if anyone needs a little rest, it's the Scottish doyen. Because Andy Murray had to go the full distance against both Lorenzo Sonego and yesterday against Alexander Zverev.
But Iga Swiatek gets an unexpected day off in Dubai. Her quarter-final opponent Karolina Pliskova is unable to meet the industry leader due to a flu infection, Swiatek is in the semi-finals without a fight. As in Doha last week: Belinda Bencic did not appear in exactly the same phase of the tournament.
Swiatek in the semifinals against Gauff or Keys
Which means that Swiatek has given up a whopping three games until the semifinals. Two at the start against Leylah Fernandez, only one in the round of 16 against Liudmila Samsonova. Should it really come to the final against Aryna Sabalenka, then the Australian Open winner would probably have to deal with a very rested Iga Swiatek.
On the way to the final, the three-time major winner will first have to deal with an American. After today's rest day it's either against Madison Keys or Cori Gauff. The latter also benefited from a withdrawal in the round of 16 - Elena Rybakina could not compete there.