Dubai Duty Free: Coco Gauff defeats Madison Keys in an all-American quarter-final to go to the final four of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, where she will face Iga Swiatek. I Barbora Krejcikova defeats Aryna Sabalenka for the first time this season.
Coco Gauff advanced to the semi-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after defeating fellow American Madison Keys.
Gauff defeated her compatriot 6-2 7-5 in the quarter-finals to go to her third semi-final at the WTA 1000 level or higher.
After a rocky start, Gauff dominated the first set, but Keys challenged well in the second and led 5-4, but a bad game meant the 18-year-old was able to draw away as Keys finished with 51 unforced errors.
Gauff will now face Swiatek in the final four after the top seed was given a walkover after her opponent, Karolina Pliskova, was pulled out due to sickness.
The duo will meet for the sixth time, including in last year’s Roland Garros final, and Gauff has yet to win a set in their last five meetings.
Gauff stated before meeting Swiatek: “I made a mistake all five times! To be honest, she’s playing fantastic tennis, and there’s a reason she’s ranked first in the world.
“I’m not under any duress. I just have to play my game – I believe I’ve improved since the last time I faced her.
“At the end of the day, ranking is just a number. All you have to do is walk onto the court believing you can win, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
Czech Barbora Krejcikova rallied from a set and a break down to defeat Aryna Sabalenka 0-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-1 and halt her 13-0 start to the year.
“All I was doing was fighting,” Krejcikova explained. “There’s not much you can improve since she plays well, serves well, and strikes hard.
“I was just trying to get to her pace, I don’t know, maybe be a bit more aggressive because it’s difficult to do something else.”
Krejcikova will face Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals after Karolina Muchova withdrew due to an abdominal issue.
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