By Tennis Now | Wednesday, February 22, 2023

 

Madison Keys beat a gimpy former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 6-1 rolling into the Dubai quarterfinals against compatriot Coco Gauff.

Photo credit: Getty for Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

American stars will collide in the Dubai quarterfinals.

Madison Keys crushed a gimpy Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 6-1 rolling into the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships quarterfinals against compatriot Coco Gauff.

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The fifth-seeded Gauff took a walkover into the last eight when Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina withdrew prior to their scheduled round of 16 clash due to a back injury.



World No. 1 Iga Swiatek continues to redefine dominance.

Empowered by her run to a 12th career title in Doha, Swiatek continues to decimate opponents. Swiatek overwhelmed big-hitting Liudmila Samsonova 6-1, 6-0 tearing through 11 consecutive games to seal a superb 76-minute win. Swiatek did not face a break point and converted five of her 10 break points.



In her run to her 12th career title in Doha last week, Swiatek set a WTA record for fewest games allowed en route to a title permitting just five games. Swiatek has dropped only nine games in her five wins since she suffered an Australian Open fourth-round loss to Rybakina.

Reigning Roland Garros champion and US Open champion Swiatek will face Karolina Pliskova for a semifinal spot.

Two-time major finalist Pliskova outlasted Anhelina Kalinina 7-5, 6-7(6), 6-2.

Former world No. 1 Azarenka was hobbled by an apparent leg issue as Keys cruised through a 57-minute victory. Keys, who did not face a break point all day, powered out to a 5-0 second-set lead and never looked back.

“(Victoria Azarenka) obviously wasn’t feeling her best, but I guess I get to play another match," Keys said. "I’ll take what I did today and do it again tomorrow.

“In a situation like today all you can do is focus on your own game and play your shots.”



The 2017 US Open finalist Keys has knocked off two quality opponents, fourth-seeded Caroline Garcia and the 15th-seeded Azarenka, back-to-back. Keys and Gauff have split two prior encounters which came at the start and near the end of last season. Keys edged Gauff 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 win in Adelaide before Gauff answered with an emphatic 6-2, 6-3 victory the 2022 US Open third round.

Three American women are into the Dubai last eight.

No. 3-seeded Jessica Pegula was a 6-4, 6-3 victor over Ana Bogdan. Pegula, who reached the Doha singles final and won the Doha doubles crown with Gauff last weekend, moves into her third consecutive quarterfinal.

“She was playing really well and has played a lot of matches on these courts and in these conditions," Pegula said. "She came out really intense so I really had to raise my level.

"I’m just glad I was able to come back in that first set and kept my focus.”

Up next for Pegula is talented all-court player and former world No. 19 Karolina Muchova, who defeated Olympic gold-medal champion Belinda Bencic 6-1, 6-4.