Elena Rybakina saved six match points before closing out a dramatic victory against Paula Badosa to reach the quarter-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships, while world number one Aryna Sabalenka fell to a surprise defeat.
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina fought back from 6-3 down in a second-set tie-break, while Badosa also spurned two match points on Rybakina’s serve at 6-5 in the decider.
The world number seven held firm before securing a 4-6 7-6 (10-8) 7-6 (7-2) win with her first match point after a gruelling two hours and 49 minutes.
The six match points saved is the most by a player en route to a WTA Tour win since Tatjana Maria’s win over Emiliana Arango at Nottingham in June.
The 2022 Wimbledon champion will face Sophia Kenin after the American ended Jasmine Paolini’s title defence with a 6-4 6-0 victory.
Italy’s Paolini, a runner-up at the French Open and Wimbledon last year, struggled in the second set after rolling her ankle and later withdrew from the doubles.
