In a thrilling turn of events at the WTA 500 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, British No. 2 Sonay Kartal has advanced to the quarter-finals, stepping into the spotlight against unexpected opponent Renata Zarazua. The Mexican player entered the draw as a lucky loser, taking the place of the top seed and defending champion, Belinda Bencic, who withdrew from the tournament due to illness.
World No. 9 Bencic had planned to kick off her campaign in this prestigious tournament but opted out at the last moment, citing her inability to compete. This not only cost her the opportunity to defend her title but also led to a drop in her world ranking, as Bencic forfeited the 500 ranking points associated with her past victories in Abu Dhabi.
In a heartfelt statement, Bencic expressed her disappointment: “Hi everyone, I am sorry to say I have to withdraw from @mubadalaabudhabiopen due to illness. I have tried desperately to be ready to play but finally today it was clear I could not. It’s a special tournament that means a lot to me and I have a special place in my heart with the fans. I was excited to defend my title. I look forward to hopefully returning next year to this fantastic event. Thank you for your support!”
With Bencic sidelined, Kartal’s pathway to the quarter-finals became clearer. The British player, currently ranked No. 61 in the world, showed an impressive performance, only needing 57 minutes on court to dispatch Zarazua with a commanding 6-0, 6-3 scoreline. Kartal’s serve was virtually unbreakable; she lost just seven points in total and did not face a single break point throughout the match.
Kartal, who had successfully navigated through two qualifying matches before her first-round triumph against Cristina Busca, now looks ahead to her next challenge against 20-year-old Sara Bejlek. Bejlek made headlines earlier in the day by knocking out No. 7 seed Jelena Ostapenko, the former French Open champion, with a score of 6-4, 6-3. Bejlek’s performance was marked by her tenacity, breaking Ostapenko decisively in the final game of the opening set.
Meanwhile, Alexandra Eala, the young star from the Philippines, thrilled the crowd with her remarkable comeback against Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Eala dropped the first set but staged a fierce battle, ultimately prevailing 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) after nearly three hours of intense play. “These moments are ones I only dreamed about,” Eala shared after the match, describing the electric atmosphere generated by her fans.
Eala will face another tough competitor in the quarter-finals—No. 2 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, who rolled past Dayana Yastremska with ease, winning 6-3, 6-0 in just 70 minutes. Alexandrova delivered a striking performance, winning over 64% of points on Yastremska’s first serve and converting six out of nine break points.
As Day 4 of the tournament wrapped up, the upcoming matches promise even more excitement for tennis fans. Kartal’s clash with Bejlek, along with Eala’s encounter against Alexandrova, sets up a thrilling stage for the quarter-finals at the Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi, where both the seasoned players and rising stars aim for glory.
