Rybakina rockets into Dubai final

Elena Rybakina continued her red-hot form to storm into her fourth final of 2020 with a 7-6(5) 7-6(2) triumph over No.8 seed Petra Matric at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The 20-year-old, having already lifted the Hobart International title this season, has accumulated a Tour-leading 19 match wins so far.

Rybakina, having overturned a break deficit in each set against Martic, will vie for the trophy against Wimbledon champion and top seed Simona Halep or the in-form qualifier Jennifer Brady.

“It’s amazing, it was a really tough match . She played really good so I just tried to work for every point and did my best,” stated the world No.19, shocked at her energy levels in a 22nd contest of 2020.

“I don’t know, I just want to win. I was saying I have nothing to lose at this tournament, but today I wasn’t saying this, I wanted to win so much.

“Of course I didn’t think I’d make this start. I had such an unbelievable year in 2019 and was hoping I could maybe do the same this year, but hopefully I can keep going like this.”