Halep headlines quarterfinal day at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

The 2015 champion saved a match point in the second round to defeat Tunisian Ons Jabeur, prevailing 1-6 6-2 7-6(7). She faces seventh-seeded Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals, whom she leads 2-1 in career meetings.

Sabalenka defeated Belgian Elise Mertens in her second round match. The Belarusian defeated Halep earlier this year in the Adelaide quarterfinals, and she has the game required to trouble the Romanian.

Second-seeded Karolina Pliskova battles Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, who might be the most in-form player on Tour right now. The St. Petersburg finalist defeated Katerina Siniakova in straight sets, and will be facing Pliskova for the first time.

Garbine Muguruza battled past Veronika Kudermetova to claim her 13th win of the season. She meets American qualifier Jennifer Brady, who upset two-time former champion Elina Svitolina in the first round. This will also be the pair's first meeting.

Eight-seeded Petra Martic faces Anett Kontaveit, who has been playing some impressive tennis this week. Both ladies will be looking to improve their records this season as they battle for the final semifinal spot.