Elena RYBAKINA recovers from second set wobble to down Emma NAVARRO and reach Qatar Open Quarter-Finals

WTA
Wednesday, 14 February 2024 at 17:49
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Elena Rybakina is the latest player into the Quarter-Finals of the 2024 Qatar Open after taking down the ever-improving Emma Navarro who continues to inch towards the top 20 but it was a bridge too far despite taking the second set as the Kazakh sealed it 6-1, 6-7(6), 6-4 to reach the Quarter-Finals in Doha.
A tougher assignment than she would've hoped for and she will now face an ever tougher one in Leylah Fernandez who has been in superb form this week. Navarro was no match in parts for Rybakina who after winning Abu Dhabi last week continues to show her devastating power.
The American who has been one of the best improvers on the tour as of late couldn't mount a challenge in the early going as Rybakina finished the set in 28 minutes. The second set was quite different as Rybakina suffered on serve and didn't create enough pressure with one of her main weapons.
Navarro withstood pressure this time and took a break for an early 3-1 lead. She didn't hold though as Rybakina battled back. But the set was decided by a tie-break which Rybakina took a 4-1 lead in but Navarro fired back to make it 4-4 and Navarro took the set from there.
But she did not take the momentum as Rybakina edged through 6-4 to stop the spirited challenge in its tracks and move into the latter stages for a second week running.

Elena Rybakina improves to 13-2 in 2024, wins a 6th consecutive match, beating Emma Navarro 6-1, 6-7(6), 6-4 to reach the QFs in Doha. Tougher that she hoped, for sure... She will face Leylah Fernandez tomorrow.

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