Humbert knocks out Alcaraz to join Zverev and Tsitsipas in Paris Masters quarterfinals

ABU DHABI: Ons Jabeur exited the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open at the quarterfinal stage for the second consecutive year after losing a thrilling encounter against reigning champion Elena Rybakina on Thursday.

The defending champion now joins Belinda Bencic, Ashlyn Krueger and Linda Noskova in Friday’s semifinals.

The sixth meeting between Jabeur and Rybakina more than lived up to the pre-match hype. On Stadium Court they played an absolute classic that was ultimately settled by a tie-break.

Having had to come from behind to defeat Katie Volynets in the last 16, Rybakina enjoyed a far better start this time, dominating Jabeur in the first set, before the Tunisian claimed the second to set up a decisive third.

Rybakina seemed destined for victory when, leading 3-2, she broke her opponent’s serve, but Jabeur displayed nerves of steel to break back immediately and win her subsequent service game to level it 4-4.

The next four games, although back and forth, went with serve, forcing a decisive tie-break which Rybakina eventually clinched, for a 6-2, 4-6, 7-6,  victory. It brought an end to Jabeur’s involvement, much to the disappointment of her fans inside Stadium Court.

In the day’s opening quarterfinal, 2023 champion Bencic faced Marketa Vondrousova, who had already seen off Emma Raducanu and Yulia Putintseva. This was a repeat of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics final, where Bencic claimed gold.

Bencic secured her spot in the last eight courtesy of a dominant win over Veronika Kudermetova, in which she did not drop a single game, and while she eventually prevailed, Thursday’s encounter was a far sterner test.

The fact the match featured 11 breaks of serve is perhaps indicative of the disrupted rhythm of the players. But having edged in front at the start of the contest, Bencic did just enough to hold on and claim the first set 7-5.

Having returned from maternity leave last October, Bencic is slowly getting back to her best, as showcased by her performances to date in Abu Dhabi. A controlled, assured display in the second set secured a 7-5, 6-3 victory, ensuring the 27-year-old is through to the semifinals.

After producing a superb comeback to eliminate last year’s beaten finalist Daria Kasatkina in the round of 16, Krueger came out on top in a three-set thriller against 2021 US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez to secure a first WTA 500 semifinal spot.

It was a fully deserved victory for the American, 20, who fired eight aces, including five in the opening set, which she edged 7-5.

Fernandez responded well and, despite not being at her best, highlighted by seven double faults, still produced some brilliant tennis, more than playing her part in a highly entertaining contest.

She took the second set, forcing a third, from which point on it was all about Krueger, who displayed fantastic power and technique to pull away from her opponent, eventually progressing 7-5, 4-6, 6-2.

Krueger now faces Noskova, also 20, in a battle of the rising talents. Noskova followed up yesterday’s outstanding win over Paula Badosa with another straight-sets victory, this time against Magda Linette 6-4, 6-3.

ABU DHABI: Ons Jabeur has reached the last eight of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open with a straight-sets victory over 17-year-old Wakana Sonobe, and on Thursday takes on reigning champion, Elena Rybakina, who came from behind to beat Katie Volynets.

In arguably the performance of the day, the US’ Ashlyn Krueger produced a stunning fightback to beat last year’s runner-up Daria Kasatkina, while Belinda Bencic, Marketa Vondrousova, Leylah Fernandez, Linda Noskova and Magda Linette are also through to the last eight.

Fan-favorite Jabeur had booked her passage to the last 16 with a superb display against Jelena Ostapenko. But she faced a different type of challenge against rising star Sonobe, who had recorded two qualifying wins before defeating Yue Yan in the round of 32. This was just over one week after claiming the girls’ singles title at the Australian Open.

While both players began the match in confident fashion, with Sonobe holding her own for the early part of the first set, her lack of experience against top players soon became apparent as she lost her last three service games in the first set to fall 1-0 down.

While Sonobe broke Jabeur immediately in the second set, the Tunisian former world No. 2 regained her composure and began to dictate play, breaking the Japanese youngster twice on her way to a 6-3, 6-3 victory. She now plays Rybakina in a repeat of the 2022 Wimbledon final.

Looking ahead, Jabeur said: “It’s going to be a tough match. Elena plays really well, and I know she loves playing here on this surface. I will just try to do my best, and focus on myself, and what I can do better on the court.”

Kazakhstan’s Rybakina came from behind to beat Volynets in her first appearance of this year’s tournament. It was a slow start from Rybakina, who dropped the first game of the match on serve, allowing American Volynets to take the first set 6-2.

Rybakina, however, is the current champion for a reason, and her response was both predictable and emphatic, as she bounced back to win the second set 6-4, before taking the third by the same scoreline, getting her defense of the crown off to the perfect start.

While Rybakina is defending the title she won a year ago, the 2023 champion, Bencic, was also in action on Wednesday, with the Swiss star producing the most dominant performance of the day as she swept aside Kudermetova 6-0, 6-0 in just 64 minutes.

Bencic will now face 2023 Wimbledon champion, Vondrousova, who followed up her win over Emma Raducanu with another solid display, this time against Yulia Putintseva, running out a 6-2, 6-3 winner on Stadium Court.

Fernandez, although not quite as dominant as Bencic, booked her place in the quarterfinals courtesy of a comfortable victory over Lulu Sun, who provided minimal resistance, particularly in the first set which the Canadian claimed without losing a game.

Sun improved in the second set, but Fernandez, who was beaten by Coco Gauff at the recent Australian Open, simply produced a series of eye-catching shots for an impressive 6-0, 6-3 victory. She now faces Krueger in the last eight.

Krueger had made a brilliant comeback against Kasatkina. Having won just a solitary game in a one-sided first set, Krueger, 20, recomposed herself and responded in style, eventually securing an outstanding 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory.

In the day’s final two matches, Czech star Noskova, 20, produced a stunning performance to upset Paula Badosa, beating the Spaniard 6-4, 6-1. This sets up a last-eight meeting with Linette, who was awarded a victory via walkover in her tie against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova after she was forced to withdraw.

Stadium Court plays host to all four quarterfinals on Thursday, with Jabeur versus Rybakina undoubtedly the pick of the ties. The pair have met five times in their careers to date, with Jabeur winning three to Rybakina’s two, although one of those victories was the Wimbledon final in 2022.

Vondrousova and Bencic have been in fine form during the tournament so far, meaning their meeting is likely to be an intriguing one, while Fernandez versus Krueger is an opportunity to watch two of tennis’ young talents battle it out for a place in the semifinals.