The WTA 500 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open has reached the semi-final stage, featuring a mix of established talent and emerging players. Sadly, the competition won’t see British No. 2 Sonay Kartal progressing, as she fell to the impressive 20-year-old Sara Bejlek, who will next challenge the third-seed Clara Tauson.
Ekaterina Alexandrova, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, halted the spirited journey of Alexandra Eala in the quarter-finals on Thursday. Eala, who had won over many fans with her tenacity, unfortunately could not withstand Alexandrova’s powerful performance, losing 6-3, 6-3 in a match that lasted around 90 minutes. Alexandrova’s tactical approach and superior shot-making proved critical as she secured her first semi-final berth of the season.
Reflecting on the match, Alexandrova noted the challenge posed by Eala, who had recently clawed her way back from a precarious situation in her previous match. “I knew it was going to be difficult, but the atmosphere was amazing today,” Alexandrova said, acknowledging the support Eala had from the crowd. She highlighted the importance of focusing on the process, stating, “You need to play until the last point.”
The match was marked by Alexandrova’s commanding 33 winners against Eala’s 15. Despite Eala’s strong serving, landing 70% of her first serves, she managed to win only 45% of those points. In contrast, Alexandrova triumphed with an impressive 70% on her first serves, allowing her to maintain the upper hand in critical moments.
Meanwhile, Hailey Baptiste, a wild-card entrant, made headlines by defeating fifth-seed Liudmila Samsonova in a thrilling three-set encounter. Baptiste claimed victory with a score of 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, marking her first appearance in a WTA semi-final. She demonstrated resilience, overpowering her opponent with four aces compared to Samsonova’s zero, and adding to her growing list of notable upsets, which includes a previous triumph over fourth-seed Emma Navarro.
In another quarter-final match, Bejlek needed only 63 minutes to overpower Kartal with a decisive 6-0, 6-2 victory. The Czech player did not drop a set in the tournament thus far and displayed a wide array of shots, seamlessly mixing powerful strokes with clever drop shots to outmaneuver her opponent.
Baptiste will meet Alexandrova in one semi-final, while Bejlek faces Tauson, who was also impressive in her quarter-final match against McCartney Kessler. Tauson earned her place in the last four with a steady 6-3, 6-4 win, showcasing her signature explosive baseline power that has helped her secure a top-20 ranking.
As these semi-finals loom, tennis fans are excited to witness a clash of seasoned professionals against new talent, promising thrilling matchups in the quest for the title at the Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre.
