The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, part of the prestigious WTA 1000 series, is currently taking place in Dubai, featuring an impressive prize pool exceeding $4 million. In the second round of the tournament, Ukraine’s top player, Elina Svitolina, who is seeded seventh, faced off against Spain’s Paula Badosa. The match took an unexpected turn when Badosa withdrew due to an injury after Svitolina had rallied to win the first set 6-4.
Initially trailing 1-4 in the opening set, Svitolina demonstrated resilience by clinching five consecutive games to claim the set. Following the conclusion of the first set, Badosa called for medical assistance and subsequently announced her withdrawal from the match.
Svitolina’s victory sets the stage for her next challenge against Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, the eighth seed. Bencic advanced to the third round after her opponent, Czech Sara Bejlek, withdrew from their scheduled match. The matchup between Svitolina and Bencic is highly anticipated as the two have faced each other five times previously, with Svitolina emerging victorious on three occasions, including their last encounter at the WTA 1000 tournament in Miami last year.
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships will continue until February 21, promising thrilling matches as top players, including Svitolina and Bencic, strive for success in this competitive tournament. Fans can look forward to a display of high-caliber tennis as the event progresses.