Iga Swiatek delivers another dominant Dubai display, Aryna Sabalenka remains undefeated in 2023

The WTA’s Top 2-ranked players stayed on a final collision course in Dubai, taking different routes to the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 event on Wednesday.

Iga Swiatek continued her scorching run of form, dispatching Liudmila Samsonova, 6-1, 6-0, in 67 minutes. Swiatek won the last 11 games of the contest, picking apart the Russian’s second serve by claiming 19 of 22 points.

“I realized in Australia that my mindset wasn’t really great. I was pretty stressed with everything, beginning of the season being world No. 1,” an under-the-weather Swiatek told the crowd afterwards. “So right now I’m happy that I could start from the beginning, from a clean page. I really worked hard to play a more solid game from the baseline, especially on faster hard courts. I’m happy that I have my effect.”

Since returning to action, the world No. 1 has dropped just eight games over five matches in the Middle East. Jessica Pegula is the only competitor to earn more than one game in a single set during that stretch, reaching 6-3 in the first set of last Saturday's Doha final defeat to the Pole.

Swiatek was due to face Karolina Pliskova in the final eight, but the former No. 1 pulled out late Wednesday with a viral illness after battling past Anhelina Kalinina, 7-5, 6-7 (6), 6-2. Coincidentally, Swiatek also received a walkover in the quarterfinal stage of Doha when Belinda Bencic withdrew due to fatigue.

As for second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, she remained undefeated in 2023 after staying with fellow power player Jelena Ostapenko to turn the tide against the reigning title holder, 2-6, 6-1, 6-1.

Meeting for the first time since 2019 Zhengzhou, Ostapenko capitalized on her first three break point chances to build a one-set lead. Sabalenka cleaned up her hitting with just two unforced errors in the second set, and pulled away from the Latvian with a stronger baseline presence after striking first in their decider with a break in the third game.

“First set, she played unbelievable tennis. I couldn’t do anything,” Sabalenka said during an on-court interview. “I was looking at my team and asking like, ‘what can I do?’ Somehow I turned around this game and started playing really incredible tennis. Just super happy with the win.”

Sabalenka improved to 13-0 on the year, following triumphs at Adelaide and the Australian Open, where she lifted her first Grand Slam singles trophy. She will take on Barbora Krejcikova, who outclassed countrywoman Petra Kvitova, 6-3, 6-2.

Americans Coco Gauff and Madison Keys will battle it out for a semifinal spot. Gauff advanced without hitting a ball, after a lower back injury forced Elena Rybakina to end her tournament. Keys dismissed Victoria Azarenka, 6-2, 6-1, for her third straight-set victory of the week.

Gauff's doubles partner Pegula also moved through, defeating Ana Bogdan, 6-4, 6-3. The world No. 3 gets Karolina Muchova Thursday, after the 26-year-old snapped Belinda Bencic’s seven-match win streak with a 6-1, 6-4 win.