Rising star Rybakina sets up title showdown with Halep

Top seed and former champion Simona Halep will face Dubai debutant Elena Rybakina in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Saturday after both won straight-set but contrasting semi-final victories.

Halep, who will be attempting to reclaim the trophy she won in 2015, ended the run of qualifier Jennifer Brady 6-2 6-0, and Rybakina overcame eighth seed Petra Martic 7-6 (5) 7-6 (2).

While both Rybakina and Brady have made headlines by ousting seeded favourites during the week, Martic had quietly reached the semi-final by winning all three of her matches in straight sets.

The Kazakh, who has won a WTA-leading 19 matches in 2020, took two and a quarter hours to outlast her more experienced Croatian opponent who led 3-0 in the second set.

The 19th-ranked Rybakina will play for the title on Saturday against the winner from top seed Simona Halep and US qualifier Jennifer Brady.

Rybakina won the Hobart title last month and finished runner-up in Shenzhen and St Petersburg.

After a modest 2019 season, the 20-year-old has improved 150 places to 19th in the rankings.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “Hopefully, I can continue to play like this and next year also.

“The first set, it was not easy because she plays good, with really good slices.

“In the second set, of course, I was 3-0 down, but I knew it was going to be easier to win that set than play a third one.

“In the important moments I managed to serve really good. I was fighting every point, just fighting.”

Martic, ranked 15th, reached the semis without losing a set. She has won one career title at Istanbul in 2019.

Rybakina saved set points in both sets. In the opener she also wasted three set points before ending the tie-break with a crisp volley winner at the net.

She went down a break early in the second set to trail 3-0 but hit back to level at 4-4.

Rybakina saved a pair of set points in the 12th game to force a tiebreaker and dominated in the decider to advance.

In contrast to Rybakina’s struggle, Halep always looked the more likely winner against the adventurous but ultimately frustrated Brady. She faced and saved only two break points and completed her victory in 62 minutes.

Halep had the fitness edge against Brady, who had spent more than nine hours on court this week to the Romanian’s three and a half.

“It felt much better than previous matches,” said World No. 2 Halep.

“I played really well. Everything went in my side. I felt the ball great. I feel like I played the best match since I came here. Yeah, it’s fun when you feel the ball and when you can do anything you want. Today it was one of those days, I could open the court easy. I felt like every time I hit the ball I feel it.”

Now she plays for her 20th career title against an opponent who has won more matches than anyone else this year. It is a challenge she is looking forward to.

It was the Romanian’s first straight sets win of the Dubai Open. She recovered set deficits in the previous rounds against Ons Jabeur and Aryna Sabalenka.

“It’s always a nice opportunity and privilege to play the last match of the tournament,” she said.

“I play for another trophy, so I’m relaxed. I’m focused. I really want it. Loving to play here in Dubai makes me happy on court, and that’s why I can actually feel like every day improve. It’s amazing what she’s done already this year. I saw her a little bit during some matches. She has a big serve. I have to pay attention on my return and to be like today: confident, aggressive if there is a chance, just fighting.”

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships results on Friday (x denotes seeding):
Semi-finals: Simona Halep (ROU x1) bt Jennifer Brady (USA) 6-2, 6-0
Elena Rybakina (KAZ) bt Petra Martic (CRO x8) 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/2)