Ashlyn Krueger continues Abu Dhabi Open breakout, surges past Leylah Fernandez to reach semi-finals
ATP
Ashlyn Krueger is into her first WTA 500 semi-final after taking down Leylah Fernandez at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Open seeing off the top Canadian 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 on Thursday.
Fernandez who is seeded eighth this week hit just one ace and seven double faults in a match that took just under two and a half hours. Krueger was near faultless at times hitting eight aces including five in the opening set.
She also recovered in the second set from losing a 3-0 lead which allowed Fernandez back into the contest to take the second. Before she surged through the finale with relative ease 6-2.
She won 62.7% of her opening serve points compared to 55.5% for Fernandez. It was a third career meeting between the pair which was split and saw Fernandez win on grass at Eastbourne last year. But pivotally, it was Krueger who beat her on home soil for Fernandez at the National Bank Open last year.
Krueger now faces off against the inner of the Quarter-Final between Magda Linette and Linda Noskova. Earlier Belinda Bencic continued her epic story, she saw off Marketa Vondrousova 7-5, 6-3 to reach the semi-finals. Her first since returning as a mother on the main tour.
Elena Rybakina is a set up on Ons Jabeur but as of time of writing the match certainly has legs to go. After winning the opener fairly comfortably, Jabeur sits on the verge of going 4-1 up in the second which would go a long way to forcing a decider between the pair.
Rybakina is defending champion and the top seed this week but it is perhaps Krueger who could be an outsider. She has already staked her claim this year. Aside from the Australian Open, it has been Quarter-Finals every tournament since the turn of the year. She is up to a new career high and certainly thriving.
The Cinderella story continues! 💫
— wta (@WTA) February 6, 2025
Ashlyn Krueger is into her first WTA 500 semifinal, after defeating Fernandez 7-5, 4-6, 6-2. #MubadalaAbuDhabiOpen pic.twitter.com/92L1BZgNE2
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